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LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Cooies Received 

JUL18 >906 

' COPY 


contents" 


PAGE 

Chapter I 9 

Chapter II 20 

Chapter III 35 

Chapter IV 47 

Chapter V 59 

Chapter VI 68 

Chapter VII . . . 81 

Chapter VIII 98 

Chapter IX . . . . . . . . 108 

Chapter X 122 

Chapter XI 144 

Chapter XII 157 

Chapter XIII 172 

Chapter XIV 184 

Chapter XV 200 

Chapter XVI 219 

Chapter XVII 232 

Chapter XVIII 247 

Chapter XIX 260 

Chapter XX 273 

Chapter XXI 288 

Chapter XXII 308 

Chapter XXIII 320 



ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

“I will never build up my own fortune by robbing my 

neighbor.* * Frontispiece 231 

He approached the house with a heavy step and a surly air 81 

The boy and girl both started violently as Professor Allyn’s 

cold, grave tones fell upon their ears 165 s 

He sank upon a chair with a face like chalk .... 260 

They were being stealthily followed by a tall figure clad 

in a dark gray ulster 277 

. . . 3 10 


“I will not do it,” he cried, excitedly . 







Step by Step 

A Story of High Ideals 

CHAPTER I 

It was a great day in tlie thriving Hew Hamp- 
shire town of , the long-anticipated day of the 

County Fair; an important event, interesting alike 
to old and young, high and low, rich and poor, who, 
with one accord, yearly wended their way toward 
the spacious grounds set apart for this purpose, and 
abandoned themselves, for the time being, to the en- 
joyment of the various attractions prepared for their 
entertainment and profit. 

As the hour appointed for the racing — the great 
feature of the occasion — drew near, streams of pe- 
destrians poured into the enclosure, while vehicles 
of every description, filled with gay and eager sight- 
seers, rolled in through the wide gateway, and sought 
favorable vantage ground from which to overlook the 
track and the approaching equine contests for speed 
and purse. 

Just outside the great gate a boy of perchance 
twelve summers might have been seen kneeling upon 
the ground, close beside the high board fence, his 
right eye peering through a convenient knot-hole, 


io 


STEP BY STEP 


where, apparently oblivious to all else, he was ab- 
sorbed in watching the animated scene within that 
charmed enclosure, and from which, for lack of the 
price of a ticket, he was pitilessly debarred. 

He was a sturdy-looking youth, straight as a young 
Indian and well formed, but very poorly clad; so 
conspicuously shabby, indeed, that he seemed a gro- 
tesquely incongruous figure thrust upon that festive 
scene, and would have made a quaintly pathetic sub- 
ject for the skillful brush of even the immortal and 
prolific Murillo, who so vividly portrayed the gamin 
of the streets. 

His clothing was badly faded and worn, gener- 
ous patches adorning both elbows of his jacket; his 
trousers, of a different material, had evidently been 
made for an older boy and had seen prolonged and 
active se^ice, as numerous rents and many intri- 
cate stitches abundantly testified; while the broken 
and discolored straw hat, which had slipped from his 
well-shaped head and lay unheeded on the ground 
beside him, gave evidence of several season’s wear 
and tear in both storm and shine. 

He wore no shoes or stockings, and his deeply 
tanned ankles and travel-stained feet showed many 
a cruel callous and stone-bruise. 

But at the present moment neither discomfort nor 
shabbiness appeared to cause him the least concern, 
for he was lost to all thought of self in his contem- 
plation of the enthralling scenes on the other side 
of that high board fence, and doubtless would have 
held undisputed possession of that blessed knot- 


STEF BY STEP 


n 


hole for an indefinite period but for an incident, 
which, though of no special significance at the time, 
was destined to have an important influence both 
upon the boy’s own life and the future of others. 

Presently a handsome carriage, drawn by a pair 
of sleek, beautiful thoroughbreds, black as Erebus 
and resplendent in silver-mounted harness, rolled up 
to the gate and came to a stop. 

There were four people in the vehicle. A fine- 
looking man with his fourteen-year-old son occupied 
the front seat, and a richly dressed lady with a 
dainty little miss of ten sat behind them. 

While the gentleman was searching his pockets 
for his stockholder’s pass a gust of wind suddenly 
whisked the hat frofn the golden head of the pretty 
maiden and whirled it, with seeming design, straight 
down upon the ragged urchin by the fence. 

“ Oh, papa, my hat ! ” exclaimed a sweet/ childish 
voice, whereupon the startled boy on the ground 
turned a bronzed face and a pair of great, surprised 
brown eyes upon the occupants of the carriage, just 
as a second flurry caught up the tasteful combination 
of flowers and ribbons and sailed away in another 
direction with it. 

The lad on the front seat started up, and was 
about to spring to the earth in pursuit of the fugi- 
tive head-gear, when the ragamuffin at the knot-hole 
called out cheerily: 

“ Hold on, there ! I’ll get it.” 

Springing to his feet he darted off like a flash and 
succeeded in capturing the fluttering finery a few 


12 


STEP BY STEP 


rods away, when running swiftly back to the car- 
riage, he passed it up to its youthful owner with a 
smile and an air of triumph that betrayed not a 
little pride in view of his athletic achievement on her 
behalf. 

“ Thank you, thank you. And, oh, my ! can’t you 
run! ” cried the appreciative girl, as her dancing 
blue eyes looked down into his, so big and brown, 
and a pair of rose-hued lips smiled hearty approval 
of his timely service. 

“ You certainly did make very good time, my 
boy; here’s a dime for your trouble,” observed the 
gentleman, as he leaned forward to pass him the 
coin. 

But the youth drew back a pace or two, flushing 
to his brows as his glance fell upon the piece of 
silver. 

“ You are welcome, sir,” he gravely replied. 

“ And you won’t take the money \ ” questioned 
the man, a note of surprise in his tone. 

“ No, sir ; thank you,” and the look the boy lifted 
to the pretty child on the back seat plainly indicated 
that he felt amply rewarded by merely having been 
allowed to serve her. 

The gentleman regarded him curiously. 

He had a good face, with clear, frank eyes that 
looked straight back at him, thus bespeaking innate 
honesty and purity, while there was an earnestness 
in their depths which indicated that he possessed 
an unusually thoughtful nature for one of his years ; 
and the owner of the handsome equipage was im- 


STEP BY STEP 


*3 


pressed that he was no ordinary boy, notwithstand- 
ing his generally forlorn and poverty-stricken ap- 
pearance. 

“ Would you like to earn a quarter ? ” he inquired 
with sudden inspiration and a suggestive emphasis 
upon the verb. 

“ You can bet I would, sir,” was the quick re- 
sponse, the clear young voice thrilling with boyish 
eagerness. 

“ Well, then, I want some one to watch my team 
while we visit the exhibition hall. Trot inside the 
grounds and follow the carriage. Let this boy pass,” 
the gentleman concluded, with a nod to the gate- 
keeper, as, having produced his pass, he chirruped 
to his horses to go on. 

The youth needed no second bidding. He made 
a vigorous dive for his own hat, jammed it down 
upon his head, and was on the other side of the fence 
in a trice, every nerve in his active young body tin- 
gling with delight in view of the rare good fortune 
that had so unexpectedly come to him — to have a free 
pass to the County Eair and an opportunity to earn 
a quarter besides ! 

“ Why, papa, you don’t need anyone to watch 
the team ! ” exclaimed the lad in the carriage, and 
turning an astonished look upon his father. 

“ I know it, Ted ; but the little vagabond was long- 
ing with all his heart to see the show — he wouldn’t 
take the dime for recovering Gipsy’s hat, so I had 
to make an occasion ; see ? ” and Theodore Lawrence, 
Sr., smiled significantly into the face of his son, 


STEP BY STEP 


14 

who returned him a comprehensive nod and began 
to whistle softly to himself — a habit of his when 
specially pleased over anything. 

Miss Gipsy — more decorously christened Mar- 
garet Churchill Lawrence — reached forth a plump 
hand and fondly patted the stalwart shoulders in 
front of her, and lovingly cooed “ dear Popsy ! ” thus 
expressing her appreciation of her father’s tactful 
kindness. 

It was noticeable that on this same plump hand 
there gleamed a very pretty turquoise ring which 
the happy child regarded with affectionate compla* 
cency during the operation; then lifting her eyes to 
her mother she continued, with a sigh of supreme 
content : 

“ Isn’t it just the sweet-est ring, mamma ? Such 
a lovely birthday gift, and just what I wanted.” 

Mr. Lawrence drove to a hitching rail inside the 
grounds, where, after assisting his family to alight, 
he fastened and unchecked his horses. Then, turn- 
ing to his protege, who was close at hand, he in- 
quired : 

“ Do you know anything about horses, my boy ? ” 

“ Yes, sir ; I’ve helped take care of them at the 
farm.” 

“ What farm?” 

“ The — er — the farm where I’ve lived.” The 
lad’s face grew suddenly scarlet as he faltered over 
his reply, and to conceal his embarrassment he bent 
to brush a wisp of hay from the foreleg of the off 
horse. 


STEP BY STEP 


i? 

“ What is your name ? ” pursued Mr. Lawrence. 

“ Louis Arnold, sir.” 

“ Well, Louis, you can watch around to see that 
no one meddles with the team while we take a look 
at the exhibits in the hall; then you shall have an 
opportunity to see the sights,” and with this, Mr. 
Lawrence and his family went their way, leaving 
the young stranger in charge of his valuable -team. 

Evidently the boy was very fond of horses, for 
he at once became absorbed in a critical inspection 
of the beautiful span committed to his care. 

“ My ! but you are a dandy pair of beauties ! ” he 
exclaimed admiringly and with shining eyes, as he 
walked slowly around them, patting their sleek 
haunches, smoothing their glossy manes, slapping, 
here and there, at a tantalizing fly, and confidentially 
keeping up his flattering commendations, as if he 
were talking to intelligent companions who could 
understand and appreciate every word he uttered. 

Half an hour later, while he was still faithfully 
watching at his post, Ted Lawrence suddenly re- 
appeared upon the scene. 

“ Hello ! ” he observed by way of salutation as he 
bestowed a friendly nod upon the boy. 

“ Hello ! ” echoed Louis, while his observing eyes 
took a comprehensive sweep over the trim figure of 
the rich man’s son. 

“ You can take a run around the grounds, if you 
want to, and I’ll stay with the team till you come 
back,” continued Ted genially. 

Louis flushed with pleasure, and his eyes lighted 


i6 


STEP BY STEP 


with eagerness for an instant. Then hie quietly 
replied : 

“ Guess I won’t.” 

“ Why?” 

“ ’Cause.” 

“ That doesn’t mean anything ; it’s a girl’s rea- 
son/’ observed Ted, with slightly scornful emphasis. 
u I thought, by the way you were sticking to that 
knot-hole awhile ago, you were just dying to see the 
show.” 

“ That’s right — I was,” briefly responded Louis, 
as he deftly rearranged the displaced forelock of the 
horse nearest him. 

“ Then why don’t you take your chance when it’s 
offered you ? ” demanded Ted. 

“ Your father left me here to look after these 
black beauties till he came back.” 

“ But don’t you suppose I could do that just as 
well as you ? ” queried Ted, with an undertone of 
asperity in his voice. 

“ Course I do,” assented the youthful hostler, pro 
tern., with convincing emphasis, “ but — that wasn’t 
in the bargain, you know.” 

“ Oh ! ” ejaculated the elder boy, looking enlight- 
ened, but bestowing a glance of surprise upon the 
stranger, as if he had not expected such a point of 
honor from him. 

Then, as his eyes fell upon Louis’ bruised and cal- 
loused feet, he inquired irrelevantly: 

“ How’d you get knocked up like that ? ” 

“ Frogging it down the mountains.” 


STEP BY STEP 


l 7 


“ Where from ? ” 

“ From — the farm.” 

“ Your father’s farm ? ” 

“ No. I haven’t any father,” said the boy stoic- 
ally, as he toyed with a buckle and strap of the har- 
ness. 

“ Nor mother either ? ” pursued Ted, with a no- 
ticeable softening of his curious tone as he viewed 
the rags and patches on the boy’s clothing. 

Louis slowly shook his head without replying; but 
the sudden contraction of his brow and suspicious 
quivering of his round chin betrayed that a very 
tender spot had been touched by the question. 

Ted felt a choking lump rising in his own throat 
as he observed these signs of conscious bereavement. 
It must be mighty hard for a fellow to get along 
without his father and mother — especially his mother 
— he thought sympathetically. 

“ You ought to have a stout pair of shoes before 
you go back,” he hastened to remark, to get away 
from the harrowing topic, meanwhile making a men- 
tal inventory of a plentiful supply of foot-gear that 
was stored away in his closet at home. 

“ I’m not going back,” was the brief rejoinder. 

Ted eyed him curiously for a moment, then pursed 
up his lips and gave vent to a softly prolonged 
whistle. 

“I’ll bet you’re a — runaway !” he impulsively 
exclaimed. 

A vivid scarlet suffused his companion’s face, and 
a startled look shot into his great brown eyes as he 


STEP BY STEP 


i8 

glanced fearfully around to assure himself that no 
one had overheard the observation. 

Then he retorted, with a sudden burst of temper: 

“ S’pose I am ! It — it isn’t anybody’s business.” 

Ted exhibited signs of discomfiture at this unex- 
pected shot. He had not meant to give offense, hav- 
ing spoken upon the impulse of the moment. Pres- 
ently he said, in a conciliatory tone : 

“ You needn’t fire up like that. I wouldn’t give 
you away even if I knew you were. I couldn’t be 
hard on a fellow who is down in his luck, you 
know.” 

The hot color faded out of Louis’ face as quickly 
as it had come, and with a somewhat crestfallen air 
he apologetically observed: 

“ All right — I guess you’re O. K. ; but — do you 
believe in ‘ luck ’ ? ” Evidently he wished to change 
the subject. 

“ Yes ; don’t you ? ” 

“ Ho ; there isn’t any such thing.” 

u I say — you’re a queer kind of chap,” Ted gravely 
remarked ; then drawing nearer the boy and regard- 
ing him with curious interest he added : “ I should 
think I was having mighty hard luck if I were in 
your place. What do you call it ? ” 

“ Don’t you believe in — God ? ” Louis inquired, 
with apparent irrelevance. 

How Ted was a prominent choir-boy in a fashion- 
able Episcopalian church, where his parents were 
regular attendants, and he had been reared to de- 
voutly espouse its creed, forms and ceremonies; 


STEP BY STEP 


*9 

therefore he replied, with emphatic assurance, not 
unmixed, however, with perplexity : 

“ Of course I believe in God.” 

“ Well, then, what is He and where is He ? ” 

Ted’s eyes grew big and his wonder increased. 

“ Why,” he returned, after thinking a moment, 
“ God is — is all , and He is everywhere, don’t you 
know? ” 

“ Then where does your c luck ’ come in ? ” soberly 
demanded Louis. 

“Well! — that beats me! You are the queerest 
fellow I ever saw! ” Ted ejaculated, with. a laugh of 
mingled amusement and embarrassment, as he saw 
the point; and just at that moment Mr. Lawrence, 
accompanied by his wife and daughter, appeared 
upon the scene, thus putting an end to the discussion 
of the youthful theologians. 


20 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER II 

“ Ah, Ted, we were wondering what had become 
of you,” his father remarked, as he drew near the 
boys. “ Evidently you were not specially interested 
in fruits, flowers, vegetables, and the handicraft of 
ladies.” 

“ Ho, sir ; I didn’t care much for the things in the 
hall, so thought I’d come and stay with the team 
and give Louis a chance to look around, but he said 
that wasn’t in the bargain and he wouldn’t go till 
you came back; so we’ve been having a talk,” Ted 
explained. 

Mr. Lawrence bent a searching look upon the 
young stranger. What his son had told him greatly 
impressed him in his favor, while, as he studied his 
fine face and noted his sedate, respectful manner, he 
felt that, under right conditions, he would be likely 
to develop into a man who would honor whatever 
calling he might choose. 

“ I wonder who the little ragamuffin is,” he mused, 
as he drew a handful of silver from a pocket, and 
selecting the promised “ quarter ” therefrom, passed 
it to the boy. 

“ Here is your money, young man, and I like the 
way you stick to a bargain,” he said, with an ap- 
proving smile. “ How go and have a good time, and 


STEP BY STEP 


21 


if you love horses, as I think you do, you will see 
some fine specimens on the track pretty soon.” 

Louis doffed his battered hat and thanked his kind 
patron with a beaming face as his brown fingers 
closed eagerly over the precious piece of silver which 
he had earned, and which' seemed almost a mine of 
wealth to> his unaccustomed eyes. 

He was on the point of bounding off to seek some 
vantage point from which to view the racing, when 
Miss Gipsy approached him and bashfully tendered 
a, sizable and well-filled paper bag. 

“ Do you like candy ? ” she shyly inquired. “ I 
bought this for you.” 

The lad crimsoned to the tips of his ears as with 
a diffident “ Thank you ! ” he doffed his hat again 
and accepted her gift; then he slipped away and 
was quickly lost among the crowd. 

“ Well, there goes an interesting enigma which I 
would like the privilege of studying for awhile,” Mr. 
Lawrence remarked, as he assisted his wife into the 
carriage, then lightly swung his daughter in beside 
her. 

“ Humph ! he’s got wheels in his upper story,” 
Ted asserted, with a shrug of his shoulders, as he 
sprang to his own place on the front seat with his 
father* 

“ Wheels ! ” repeated Mr. Lawrence. “ What do 
you mean by that ? ” 

Ted gravely rehearsed the recent conversation with 
his new acquaintance. It appeared to have left a 
deep impression on his mind. 


22 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Turned preacher, did he ? and doesn’t believe 
in luck,” said the gentleman, with an amused laugh, 
when he concluded. “ Well, I devoutly hope his 
radical ideas on that point will not interfere with the 
success of our trotter, Ben Bolt, when he takes his 
turn on the track this afternoon.” 

“ Oh, he ought to be our mascot instead, papa, 
because you were so good to him,” his daughter here 
interposed. 

“ It is pretty evident what your attitude is regard- 
ing the question under discussion,” her father ob- 
served, as his twinkling eyes met those of his 
wife. 

“ I don’t know what you mean, popsy,” said the 
child, looking puzzled. 

A general laugh followed her remark. 

“ What do you know about mascots, pet ? ” ques- 
tioned Mr. Lawrence in a mirthful tone. 

“ Why, I’ve heard you talk about mascots lots of 
times, and of course I know you mean they are things 
that bring you good luck ; so now ! ” and the empha- 
sis upon the last two words plainly indicated that the 
“ pet ” of the family had not quite relished the laugh 
at her expense. 

“Well, you have vindicated yourself, sweetheart 
• — you are developing every day,” the man fondly 
returned. “ However, our youthful tramp has raised 
quite a point and is a queer problem. He behaves 
like a little gentleman, betrays a very nice sense of 
honor, gives us a theological discourse in a nutshell, 
yet looks like a veritable beggar just out of the slums. 


STEP BY STEP 


2 3 

I really would like to know his history,” he thought- 
fully concluded. * 

Later they caught sight of him standing by the 
judges’ pavilion, one arm thrown around a post that 
supported it, his flushed, eager face betraying keen- 
est interest and enjoyment as he watched the flying 
steeds upon the race-course. 

They looked for him again when all was over, and 
they were slowly driving off the grounds ; but he was 
nowhere to be seen, and each experienced a sense of 
disappointment, for the interesting though unfortu- 
nate boy had appealed strongly to the sympathies of 
the entire family, while Mr. Lawrence had been seri- 
ously considering a plan to help him in some prac- 
tical way. 

They had covered only a short distance of their 
homeward way when Gipsy suddenly sent forth a 
most plaintive wail. 

u Oh, mamma ! I have lost my lovely ring, and 
my — my birthday is spoiled ! ” she cried ; and the 
startling announcement ended with a heartbroken 
burst of tears and sobs. 

“ Your birthday ring, dearie ? It was a little large 
for you. But don’t worry — I can’t think it is lost; 
it must be somewhere in the carriage,” said her 
mother reassuringly, while Ted immediately began 
a vigorous search for the missing treasure among the 
mats on the floor, Gipsy assisting him as well as she 
was able, with the crystal drops raining from her 
pretty eyes. 

But the ring, with its daintily set turquoise stones, 


24 


STEP BY STEP 


which her father had slipped upon her finger that 
morning in honor of her tenth birthday, was not to 
be found, even though, after reaching home, they 
all diligently sought it and both robes and rugs were 
thoroughly shaken. 

The child was inconsolable. A pretty ring had 
been a long-coveted possession, and to lose it on the 
very day it was given her seemed a terrible affliction. 
Mr. Lawrence, however, finally aroused a faint hope 
of its recovery by promising to have her loss adver- 
tised in the daily paper of the town. 

While Louis Arnold was standing by the judges’ 
pavilion, wholly unconscious of his surroundings, or 
of aught save the sport in which he had become com- 
pletely absorbed, a carriage containing a gentleman 
and lady came slowly along the drive and paused, 
almost opposite the spot where he was stationed, to 
allow another team to pass. 

“ Look at that boy ! ” exclaimed the lady, calling 
the attention of her companion to the animated face 
and tensely poised figure by the post. 

The man gave a short laugh as his glance fell upon 
the forlorn little waif, and then something prompted 
him to lean out of the carriage to observe the lad 
more closely. 

At that instant Louis turned and looked straight 
at the couple in the vehicle. The laugh had attracted 
his attention. 

“ By George ! ” suddenly ejaculated the gentle- 
man, with a violent start, as he met the great brown 
eyes upraised to his, while instantly the ruddy color 


STEP BY STEP 


2 5 

in his face faded to a sickly hue. “ Get up ! ” he 
added sharply to his horse, and driving on. 

“ Why, what is the matter ? ” inquired his com- 
panion, regarding him with evident surprise. 

“ Oh, nothing,” was the would-be indifferent re- 
joinder. “It struck me that the youngster was a 
somewhat incongruous element — an unsightly blot 
thrust upon this festive scene — that’s all.” But he 
did not immediately regain his color or composure. 

The lady sighed softly as they passed on, and 
at length stopped before the grand stand, where 
she alighted and was conducted to a reserved seat, 
while her husband went to put up his team before 
rejoining her. A few minutes later he might have 
been seen in close proximity to the “ incongruous 
element — -the unsightly blot,” studying his brown 
face with lynx-eyed scrutiny. 

“ Have some peanuts ? ” he queried in an off-hand 
tone, as he passed Louis a bag from which, appar- 
ently, he had been eating as he approached the spot. 

“ Thank you, sir,” said the boy, as he took a modest 
handful, and thought how good everybody had been 
to him that day. 

“ What’s your name, youngster ? ” pursued the 
newcomer, after watching him closely but covertly 
for awhile. He was a man upwards of fifty years, 
above the average height, stout of figure, florid in 
complexion, assured in his bearing, and possessed a 
rather attractive though shrewd face and keen, rest- 
less gray eyes. He was well dressed, wore a small 
but flawless diamond in his necktie, and gave one 


26 STEP BY STEP 

the impression of being in most prosperous circum- 
stances. 

“ Louis Arnold, sir,” said the boy, in reply to his 
inquiry. 

u You look like some one I once knew. What was 
your mother’s name before she married your fa- 
ther ? ” the stranger continued, but his lips were not 
quite steady as he put the question. 

“ Annie Judkins, sir.” 

The man drew a quick breath, and again the 
ruddy color was swept out of his face. 

“ I — I used to know some one by the name of — 
Judkins; but that was before I left England,” he 
remarked, with some hesitation. 

“ My mother lived in England once. Do you 
think you ever knew her?” eagerly questioned 
Louis. 

The man grew paler than before. 

“ Ho ; the person I refer to was a — man,” was the 
somewhat hasty reply. “ Where do you live ? ” he 
demanded after a moment. 

“ I haven’t any home now. I’ve been living up 

in , but I’m trying to get a place as chore-boy,” 

Louis explained, adding, with an eager thrill in his 
young voice : “ Do you know of anybody who wants 
one?” 

‘ I don’t think I do,” returned the man, now flush- 
ing hotly. Then he queried sharply : “ Have you 
no father or mother ? ” 

“ Ho, nor anybody to take care of me,” was the 
pathetic rejoinder. 


STEP BY STEP 


27 

Again the man caught his breath and shot a look 
of dismay upon the forlorn figure beside him. 

“Have some more peanuts,” he said, after an 
awkward pause. “ Take them all — I do not care 
for any more.” 

He thrust the bag into Louis’ hand, hesitated an 
instant, as if about to make some further remark, 
then turned abruptly away and walked toward the 
grand stand; but there was a strained expression 
in his eyes, and he moved like a person dazed by 
some terrifying shock or unlooked-for revelation. 

Two weeks later Benjamin Weston, a well-to-do 
farmer, who resided on the outskirts of one of Bos- 
ton’s beautiful suburban towns, was returning home 
late one afternoon from his customary visit to the 
post-office, Avhen he came suddenly upon a boy 
stretched prone upon the ground by the road- 
side, not more than a stone’s throw from his own 
door. 

“ Well, youngster, it seems to me that you have 
chosen a pretty hard bed. Why are lying here at 
this time of the day ? ” he questioned, as the lad 
wearily lifted his head at the sound of steps, and 
bent a wistful look upon the man. 

“ I’m just resting,” briefly returned the wayfarer, 
as, with a sigh, he dropped back to his former posi- 
tion. 

“Resting! What have you been doing to make 
you give out like this on the road ? ” demanded the 
farmer. 

“ Tramping.” 


28 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Tramping ! You look rather young to be in that 
kind of business. Where do you come from? ” 

“ New Hampshire.” 

“ H’m ! That is quite a walk for a boy of your 
size, sure enough. Been on the way long ? ” 

“ ’Most three weeks.” 
u Where are you bound for ? ” 

“ I don’t know, sir ; I’ve been trying to hire out 

all the way down, but nobody wants ” 

The youth choked suddenly, and turned his face 
away from the keen eyes that were thoughtfully 
studying him. 

“H’m!” again ejaculated the man, bending a 
glance of compassion upon the forlorn figure lying 
at his feet. “ You look to me as if you’d been tramp- 
ing on an empty stomach, at least for to-day. Sup- 
pose you come home with me and fill up before you 
go on.” 

Louis Arnold — for the youthful wanderer was 
none other than Mr. Lawrence’s interesting protege 
at the recent county fair in New Hampshire — started 
to his elbow, an intensely yearning expression in his 
large brown eyes as he pathetically returned : 

“ You are very good, sir, and I — I am hungry.” 
But he flushed with shame as he reluctantly admitted 
the fact. 

“ Well, well, boy ; then come on. There’s always a 
bite in mother’s pantry for hungry folks, and maybe 
we can find you a more comfortable place to rest 
your tired body in for the night,” said the farmer, 
with a sympathetic inflection that went straight to 


STEP BY STEP 


29 

Louis’ heart, putting new life in him, and bringing 
him to his feet almost before the man ceased speak- 
ing. 

But he looked pale and gaunt from long fasting 
and the many other trying experiences of the last 
two weeks. His eyes were heavy and sunken from 
excessive weariness, and his clothing was even more 
soiled, tattered, and worn than when we last saw 
him. 

It was hut a few steps to the farmhouse, and as 
they drew near the porch outside the kitchen a fine 
collie sprang up with a quick, sharp bark of warn- 
ing. 

u It’s all right, Ponce,” said his master reassur- 
ingly, whereupon the intelligent creature walked 
deliberately up to Louis, looked gravely into his face 
for a moment, then wagged his feathery tail in hos- 
pitable welcome. 

Directing his guest to sit down on the porch for a 
moment, Mr. Weston disappeared within the house, 
and the boy dropped wearily upon the steps, feeling 
as if he never wanted to move again. 

A little later a cheery, motherly woman came out 
to him, and Louis loved her from the instant that 
she smiled kindly into his tired eyes. 

“ I’m told there’s a hungry boy out here,” she 
observed in pleasant, sprightly tones. “ What’s his 
name, I wonder ? ” 

u Louis Arnold, marm.” 

“ Well, Louis, come in with me and we’ll see if 
we can’t make that aching void a dream of the past,” 


STEP BY STEP 


30 

she said, with a little rippling laugh that immedi- 
ately made his heavy heart grow lighter. 

He followed her inside the immaculate kitchen, 
where he saw one end of a table laid with a white 
cloth and spread with a bountiful supply of cold 
meat, bread and butter, a glass of milk, and a gener- 
ous piece of freshly baked apple pie. 

“ Sit right down, my boy, and help yourself. It 
is a little early for our supper, but I could not keep 
you waiting,” Mrs. Weston cordially enjoined, while 
she studied, without appearing to do so, the tired 
face of her youthful visitor. 

Louis hesitated, and appeared embarrassed. 

“ Please — may I wash my hands first ? ” he quer- 
ied diffidently. 

61 Of course you may. Why didn’t I think of that 
myself ? ” and the good woman whisked a shining 
basin from its hook above the sink, brought him soap 
and a clean towel, then made an errand from the 
room to relieve him of the awkwardness of perform- 
ing his ablutions in her presence. 

He gave his face and hands a thorough wash, then, 
drawing a small comb from a pocket, arranged his 
tumbled locks in a tidy manner, after which he sat 
down to the first really ample and wholesome meal 
that he had eaten for many a long day ; and it was a 
delectable feast to the half-starved boy. 

He was left alone for half an hour, when Mrs. 
Weston, followed by her husband, returned to the 
kitchen to find him fast asleep in his chair, the collie 
sitting close beside him, his beautiful head resting 


STEP BY STEP 


3 1 

upon the boy’s knee. Evidently the two had lost no 
time in becoming good friends. 

Louis awakened and started up in confusion as the 
door opened, and Mrs. Weston’s face wore a very 
compassionate expression as she remarked : 

“ I know somebody who would be glad to tumble 
into bed this very minute, and there’s just the place 
for him in a little room over the wood-shed. You’ll 
need a good hath first, so father’ll take up a pail of 
water for you and show you the way ; and ” — laying 
a folded garment on the table — “ here’s a clean night- 
gown for you. How, good night, and you are to have 
your breakfast here in the morning.” 

She began clearing the table as she concluded, 
while Louis, with a tremulous “ Thank you, marm,” 
followed the farmer from the room. 

His bath refreshed and rested him. It was a lux- 
ury he had not enjoyed since he started out on his 
long tramp, while the spotless night-gown and clean 
bed — what a treat they were! 

He slept as only a tired-out hoy can sleep, and was 
awakened at dawn by the crowing of a deep-voiced 
Brahma cock that, coming forth betimes, proudly 
proclaimed the fact beneath his chamber window. 

Slipping out of bed, Louis was quickly dressed, 
then drawing from the deep inside pocket of his 
shabby jacket a small black-covered hook, and taking 
it to the window, he read a couple of pages from it, 
after which he covered his eyes with his hand, and 
bowed his head for a few moments in a reverent atti- 
tude. 


3 2 


STEP BY STEP 


When these simple devotions were over he stole 
noiselessly from his room and the house, curious to 
take a look at his surroundings and the abode that 
had sheltered him for the night, and which he had 
been too weary to observe when the farmer took 
him in. 

The Weston homestead, a comfortable, roomy man- 
sion, was beautifully located upon an extensive lawn 
which sloped gently toward the road and was bor- 
dered by a row of noble old elms. Back of this there 
were a spacious barn, carriage house, and other out- 
buildings, while on every hand there was an air 
of orderliness, stability and thrift which indicated 
not only an abundance of means, but good manage- 
ment, and a desire for attractive surroundings as 
well. 

Louis’ eyes turned wistfully toward the barn, for 
he dearly loved all animals, and he had already taken 
a few steps in that direction when he caught sight 
of a great wood-pile, with a chopping-block beside it, 
in the back-yard opposite the kitchen door. 

lie paused, thought a moment, then went back 
into the shed, whence he presently emerged again 
with a hatchet in hand, and the next minute was 
vigorously at work reducing such sticks of wood as 
he could conveniently handle to available fuel. 

Thus Farmer Weston found him when, a little 
later, he came forth from the house with several shin- 
ing pails in his hands to attend to the morning milk- 
ing. 

“ Good morning, Louis,” he called out in a hearty 


STEP BY STEP 


33 


tone, and with an approving glance at the deftly 
wielded hatchet. “ I guess you’ve taken a hand at 
that kind of work before.” 

“ Yes, sir ; I had to chop wood every day at the 
farm.” 

“ Whose farm ? ” 

“ Er — the — the poor-farm, where I’ve been liv- 
ing,” replied the boy, with scarlet cheeks, but evi- 
dently determined to tell the truth about himself to 
his new friend. 

“ H’m- — a poor-farm up in New Hampshire ? ” 

“ Yes, sir.” 

“ You didn’t like it up there ? ” 

Louis shook his head emphatically while he dealt 
an especially energetic blow upon the knotty stick 
in process of dissection. 

“ So you ran away to seek your fortune in Massa- 
chusetts \ ” observed Mr. Preston in a quizzical tone. 
“ Weren’t they good to you up there ? ” 

“ I didn’t mind their rough ways so much ; but 
if a fellow is willing to work for his living he isn’t 
going to stand being cursed as i a beggar ’ and ‘ a 
pauper,’ ” returned the boy, with blazing eyes. 

Mr, Weston nodded approvingly, as if he sympa- 
thized with and commended this burst of spirit. Then 
he inquired irrelevantly: 

“ Do you like to chop wood ? ” 

“ No, sir,” with a positive inflection which left 
no doubt regarding the matter. 

“ What makes you do it, then ? ” 

Louis lifted an earnest look to the man’s face. 


34 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Suppose I don’t like to do it ? You’ve been good 
to me, and I wanted to do something for you,” he 
responded, with a heartiness that proved his sincer- 
ity. 

“ That’s right,” and the farmer’s tone expressed 
much. Then he added : “ Do you know how to 
milk?” 

“ I can do pretty well, sir.” 

“ Then suppose you come to the barn and help me ? 
My man is away for a few days. How would you 
like to stay here and work for me till he comes 
back?” 

“ Oh, may I ? ” cried Louis joyfully. “ I’d just 
love to, and I’ll do the very best I can.” 

With a glowing face and an energy born of a sud- 
denly lightened heart, he swung his hatchet deep 
into the chopping-block, and followed his companion 
to the barn with an alert step and care-free air which 
bespoke an eagerness to make good his word “ to do 
his best,” and a mind at rest regarding his present 
necessities. 


STEP BY STEP 


35 


CHAPTER III 

Louis Arnold believed himself the happiest boy 
in Massachusetts that day, and could not seem to 
do enough to manifest his joy and attest his grati- 
tude for the kindness shown him by the good farmer 
and his wife. He helped with the milking and drove 
the cows to pasture before breakfast, Ponce, the 
collie, who, strangely enough, having apparently con- 
ceived a strong and sudden affection for him, keeping 
close at his heels most of the time. 

After the morning meal, which was served him 
in the kitchen by Hannah, the maid, who also ap- 
peared to participate in the good-will of the entire 
family toward him, there were many things to bb 
done, and he showed himself so interested in his 
work, so eager to please, and was so uniformly re- 
spectful and well-behaved that Parmer Weston was 
more and more attracted to him, and began to feel 
a growing curiosity regarding his antecedents and the 
adverse circumstances that had combined to reduce 
so bright and well-bred a boy to the pitiable condition 
of a helpless dependant upon the doubtful charity of 
a Hew Hampshire poor-farm. 

When the noon dinner was over he told him to take 
an hour’s rest, or amuse himself in any way he chose 
before they began upon their afternoon’s work, which 
was to be in the potato field. 


STEP BY STEP 


3 6 

“ Or, perhaps,” he observed, as he seated himself 
on the back porch to smoke his after-dinner pipe, 
“ you’d like to tell me something about yourself, and 
how you happen to be in such a plight. Haven’t you 
any relatives, my boy ? ” 

“ Ho, sir,” replied Louis, as he dropped upon a 
step near him, while the sociable collie stretched him- 
self on the ground at his feet. “ My father died 
when I was eight years old, and my mother ” — with 
a pathetic quiver of his round chin — “ when I was 
ten.” 

u And wasn’t there an aunt, uncle, or a cousin 
who could take you in ? ” kindly inquired Mr. 
Weston. 

“ Ho, sir. My father was the high-school teacher 
in our town, and we had everything nice while he 
lived, and after he went away my mother took in 
dressmaking until she got too sick to work. But they 
didn’t have anybody belonging to them like most 
folks.” 

“ That seems strange — to have no relatives,” said 
the farmer thoughtfully. “ Was your mother sick 
long?” 

“ Well, not really sick; but she kept getting thin- 
ner and whiter for a long time, till one day she 
dropped down in a faint and never came to.” 

The boy turned away his face at this point, 
dropped his head, and was silent for a moment or 
two, whereupon Ponce got up and sympathetically 
poked his cold nose into his hand. Thus reminded 
of his presence and friendly interest, Louis slipped 


STEP BY STEP 


37 

an appreciative arm around his neck, and gave him 
an affectionate hug, then resumed: 

“ We didn’t have any money at all, so there had 
to he an auction of all our things and to — to take 
care of her, you know. Then, as there wasn’t any- 
body to look after me, the selectmen said I’d have to 
go to the town farm. But Aunt Martha — her name 
is Miss Martha Wellington — wouldn’t let me.” 

“ How does she happen to be Aunt Martha to 
you ? ” Mr. Weston here interposed. 

“ Oh, she was very good to my mother and me 
after my father went away. She used to stay with 
us a lot, to help mother do the work and sew, and 
she was there when — when — that last day, and — 
until after the auction.” Louis had to stop here 
again and swallow hard two or three times before 
he could go on. 

“ When the selectmen said I’d have to go to the 
town farm,” he presently continued, “ she told them 
I shouldn’t; she said she had little enough to live 
on herself, but she’d try to make it do and take care 
of me, too, until somebody, who could do better by 
me, would give me a home.” 

“ H’m ! She was a friend worth having,” said Mr. 
Weston, with hearty appreciation. 

“ I guess she was,” returned the boy with positive 
emphasis ; “ so I’ve lived with her ’most ever since, 
and I never loved anybody, except mother, as I love 
her. She thought a lot of me, too, and so she had 
me call her 1 Aunt Martha.’ ” 

An irrepressible sob burst from the lad just here, 


STEP BY STEP 


38 

showing how keenly he still felt his bereavement of 
both mother and friend. Hot tears also forced their 
way into his eyes, but he winked hard to prevent 
them from rolling over his cheeks, and bit his lips 
in the effort to regain his self-control. 

“ And did she ? ” 

“ Oh, no,” Louis quickly interposed, as if to pre- 
vent the utterance of a word that hurt him, “ but her 
sister, out in Colorado, did, and she was sent for to 
go and take care of her family. We — we both thought 
we couldn’t bear it at first, and she said she’d take 
me with her if she could afford it; but there were 
four children out there, and they were poor, too, so 
she just had to leave me behind.” 

Once more the boy broke off suddenly, and throw- 
ing his other arm around Ponce’s neck drew him 
closer to him, while Mr. Weston, with a suspicious 
quiver of his own eyelids, removed his pipe from his 
mouth, shook the ashes from it, and quietly laid it 
aside. 

“ Then,” the lad went on, but keeping his face 
turned away from his companion’s gaze, “ as there 
wasn’t anybody else in the town who could have me, 
I had to go to the farm. But ” — straightening him- 
self proudly and flushing hotly — “ I only lived there 
four weeks. I just wouldn't stay. They made me 
work all the time. I didn’t mind that — I like to 
work,” he hastened to explain ; “ but I did mind 
being cuffed and sworn at and twitted with being 
‘ a pauper not worth my salt.’ I’m only a boy, I 
know, but I’m sure I earned more than it cost to 


STEP BY STEP 


39 


keep me, and I wouldn’t be called sucb names and be 
made to feel I was a burden on the town, so — I ran 
away,” he concluded, in a matter-of-fact tone. 

“ And they didn’t clothe you any too well, either,” 
observed Mr. Weston, as his glance swept the forlorn- 
looking figure before him. 

Louis flushed and shrank sensitively. 

“ I had some better clothes and some good shoes 
and stockings when I started — Aunt Martha bought 
them for me just before she went West. I made 
them up in a bundle, to save them, wore my old ones, 
and went barefoot; but I fell asleep by the roadside, 
one afternoon, and when I woke up they were gone 
— somebody had stolen them.” 

u That was hard lines,” said the farmer in a 
tone of sympathy. Then he added cheerily : “ But 
mother’s going to look up some things for you before 
the day is out. We had a boy here last year who 
was about your size, and he left some very good 
clothes which he had outgrown ; I guess they’ll come 
pretty near being a fit for you.” 

“ Thank you, sir. I’d like them, if you’ll let me 
work long enough to pay for them,” said Louis, 
flushing with mingled pleasure and independ- 
ence. 

“ I imagine we can fix that all right,” his com- 
panion returned, with a quiet smile. Then after a 
moment of silence he gravely remarked : “ The Lord 
has laid His hand heavily upon you, my boy, in de- 
priving you of your parents and friends so early in 
life, and leaving you to shift for yourself.” 


4 o STEP BY STEP 

Louis now turned square around and bent a look 
of astonishment upon the man. 

“ God didn’t do that/’ he asserted positively. 

The farmer looked surprised in turn, and moved 
uneasily in his chair. 

“ Ahem ! What makes you think so ? ” he ques- 
tioned seriously. 

“ Why, because God is good ” 

“ Of course ; but don’t you believe that God gives 
life?” 

“ Yes, sir.” 

“ And takes it away ? ” 

“ Oh, no, sir ; He couldn’t do that.” 

“Tut! tut! What’s that?” demanded Mr. Wes- 
ton, a note of sternness in his tones, and sitting sud- 
denly erect. “ Why not ? ” 

“ Because God is life and He is everywhere ; so 
He couldn’t kill life anywhere without killing a part 
of Himself,” said Louis, with quiet assurance and 
amazing philosophy. 

The farmer’s face was a study as he listened to 
this metaphysical statement regarding Deity, while 
he stared at his youthful guest with an air of per- 
plexity which plainly indicated that he considered 
him a queer problem. 

“ Humph ! Bather remarkable logic for one of 
your years! So that’s the kind of theology your 
Aunt Martha has been teaching you ? ” he remarked, 
with a suggestive shrug of his broad shoulders. 

“ I don’t know whether it’s theology or not ; but 
I know it’s truth,” returned the boy conclusively. 


STEP BY STEP 


4i 


u Where do you find it ? ” 

“ In the Bible, of course.” 

“ H’m ! ” ejaculated the man reflectively. “ Then 
you don’t believe that God deprived you of your 
mother and put you in the poor-house ? ” 

u Ho, sir ; if I did I — I should — hate Him,” pas- 
sionately exclaimed the lad, with a spasmodic catch 
in his breath. 

At this, Farmer Weston flushed up suddenly and 
a steel-like glitter leaped into his usually kind eyes. 

A few years previous he had lost his only son — 
the pride of his life, the hope of his future, and 
while he would hardly have dared to say that he 
hated God — because, with his rigid adherence to 
established Presbyterian doctrines, he believed that 
“ the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed 
be the name of the Lord ” — he had nevertheless been 
secretly and bitterly rebellious against being thus 
bereft, and that bitterness still rankled in his heart. 

“ Who is responsible, then % ” he curtly demanded. 

“ Sin — evil. Aunt Martha says ” Louis be- 

gan, then paused abruptly. 

“ Well, what does Aunt Martha say ? ” sharply 
queried his companion, a vivid spot of red still burn- 
ing on either cheek and showing how deeply the man 
had been stirred. 

“ She says God is all good, so He can’t send any- 
thing but good to anyone. She says we are to blame 
for all the evil in the world, for if all the people 
who have ever lived had never thought any but good 
thoughts they would never have known anything 


STEP BY STEP 


4 2 

about evil and the trouble it brings,” and Louis’ ear- 
nest face and assured tone indicated that he was 
firmly convinced of the truth of the arguments he 
had quoted. 

“ How I wish I could know this dear Aunt 
Martha. She has certainly taught you a beautiful 
and practical faith,” a gentle voice here interposed; 
and turning, with a start of surprise, Louis saw, 
standing in the doorway behind him, a graceful 
figure, daintily clad in white, and found himself 
looking into a face which, excepting his mother’s, 
he thought was the loveliest he had ever seen. 

The lady was perhaps thirty-five years of age, with 
a dignified yet gracious bearing, shining nut-brown 
hair and beautiful blue eyes — darkly blue, like the 
fringed gentian that grew abundantly near his old 
home, and which he dearly loved; and there was a 
delicate tinge of color in her cheeks that was like 
the faint afterglow on fleecy clouds at sunset. 

“ Ah, Helen, come out ; this is just what will inter- 
est you,” said Mr. Weston, a genial smile instantly 
chasing the cloud from his brow, as he turned to 
the newcomer. Then he added : “ Louis, this lady 
is my daughter, Mrs. Eichards, who is visiting us 
for awhile.” 

Louis was on his feet in an instant and doffed his 
shabby hat with an innate grace and courtesy which 
proclaimed him both well-born and well-bred. 

“ So you are Louis Arnold,” Mrs. Eichards ob- 
served, as she smiled pleasantly into his admiring 
eyes. “ My father tells me you are to remain with 


STEP BY STEP 


43 

us for a few days. I hope you will get nicely rested 
and be happy with us.” 

“ We’ve been having a discussion similar to those 
you and I have had of late,” the farmer resumed. 
u It seems that Aunt Martha, to whom you heard 
him refer, is a veritable oracle upon the puzzling 
question of good and evil and God’s providence,” 
he concluded, a quizzical smile curling his lips and 
gleaming in his eyes. 

Louis grew suddenly crimson. 

“ I don’t know what you mean by ‘ oracle ’ ; but I 
can tell you she is almost the best woman that ever 
lived,” he retorted, with something very like a re- 
sentful thrill in his voice. 

“ I’m inclined to agree with you, my boy,” kindly 
responded Mr. Weston, who saw that the lad was 
hurt. “ Oracle means a wise person ; so you see I 
was simply paying a tribute to your friend. I am 
sure Miss Wellington must be a most estimable lady, 
and, as Mrs. Richards had said, I would like to know 
her.” 

“I see that you and Ponce have become good 
friends,” Mrs. Kichards now remarked, to change 
the subject, and she smiled as she saw the collie creep 
close to him again and poke his inquisitive nose 
into the crown of the shabby hat that hung by his 
side. 

“ I love dogs — fine dogs,” Louis replied, as he af- 
fectionately patted the glossy head of the animal, 
who pricked up his ears and wagged his plumy tail, 
as if in acknowledgment of the compliment. 


44 


STEP BY STEP 


“ That is a fine dog,” asserted Farmer Weston. 
“ He’s a good judge of human nature, too, and 
doesn’t make friends with everybody. He isn’t back- 
ward in tricks, either ; see here, Ponce.” 

The man reached for a ball that lay on a window- 
sill near him, and, leaning off the porch, tossed it 
high in the air. 

The dog was on the alert in an instant, eager for 
the sport, but quick as he was Louis was quicker, 
and, darting out into the yard, sprang aloft, catching 
the descending ball in his brown hands with a shout 
of boyish triumph, whereupon Ponce gave a quick, 
sharp bark of mingled appeal and disappointment, 
and stood upright on his hind legs, begging for the 
prize. 

“Want it?” said Louis, holding it just beyond 
his reach with a tantalizing air. 

Ponce whined wistfully. 

“ Here goes, then,” cried the youth, when there 
followed a romp which, for boyish and canine char- 
acteristics and startling athletic feats, was a marvel 
and a delight to the appreciative group upon the 
piazza. 

The farmer roared with mirth and keenest enjoy- 
ment. 

Helen Pichards clapped her jeweled hands with 
the abandon and enthusiasm of a girl, while staid 
Mrs. Weston and Hannah, the maid, left their work 
in the kitchen and came to the door to get their 
share of the fun. 

Ponce won at the end of the game from a gener- 


STEP BY STEP 


45 

ous opponent, who, with one last vigorous toss of the 
ball, cried out: 

“ Now, Ponce, here you are; go for it; hi, there ! ” 
and the eager collie, measuring distances with his 
keen eyes, bounded forward, poised himself beneath 
the descending trophy, then, with an agile spring, 
caught it between his jaws, and, running hack to 
Louis, deposited it at his feet and begged for another 
round. 

“ No, sir ; that’s enough for this time,” laughed 
the panting lad, as he sank upon the porch and 
fanned himself with his shabby hat. 

“ I guess there’s some boy left in you after all, 
although I was beginning to think Aunt Martha had 
ordained you pretty early in life,” Mr. Weston dryly 
remarked, but with a quiet twinkle in his eyes. 
“ Well ” — glancing at his watch and rising from his 
chair — “ it’s about time we made tracks for the po- 
tato field — ever dug potatoes, Louis ? ” 

“ Lot o’ times,” replied Louis, springing nimbly 
to his feet, apparently as eager for work as he had 
been for play. 

“ All right ; you’ll find a couple of hoes in the 
shed, and I’ll get the basket.” 

Louis darted away to bring the required imple- 
ments, and Mrs. Kichards, looking thoughtfully after 
him, remarked to her remaining companion : 

“ Father, I believe that is no ordinary boy, and 
I wish he might find a good home with the right 
kind of people.” 

“ So do I, Helen — so do I. I don’t like to think 


STEP BY STEP 


46 

of him all alone in the world, left to the influence 
and mercy of whoever he may chance to meet,” 
gravely responded the man as he moved away to 
go for his basket. 


STEP BY STEP 


47 


CHAPTER IV 

Mrs. Richards was the only remaining child of 
four that had once comprised the family of Farmer 
Weston and his good wife, who were energetic, pros- 
perous people, broad-minded, progressive, and most 
highly esteemed in the town where they had lived 
ever since their wedding day, when they had proudly 
taken possession of the tiny cottage which later had 
become the “ L ” to the handsome and commodious 
farmhouse which was now their home. 

Helen Weston, from her childhood, had been a 
favorite in the community with both old and young. 
Possessing an amiable disposition, an attractive per- 
sonality, together with a vein of irresistible humor, 
besides being a fine scholar, she had been regarded 
not only as the flower of the family, but of the vil- 
lage as well. 

After graduating from the high school of her na- 
tive place she had taken a four years’ course at Welles- 
ley College, preparatory to teaching, and having 
won her degree, she secured a fine position in a select 
school in Chicago, where, after a couple of years, 
she met and married a prosperous lawyer, William 
Richards, who had already attained an enviable repu- 
tation in that mighty city of the Middle West. 

Having always maintained a high moral stand- 


STEP BY STEP 


48 

ard, never lending himself to a case which he could 
not contest with an absolutely clear conscience, he 
had won the unlimited confidence of his clients, his 
progress had been relatively rapid, and now, at 
thirty-seven years of age, he was rated as one of the 
leading men in his profession, and financially suc- 
cessful in proportion. 

No children came to the young couple, and there 
were times when Helen Richards was lonely, even 
amid her luxurious surroundings, and yearned in- 
tensely for her dear ones at home. 

Frequent visits were exchanged, however, Mr. and 
Mrs. Weston from time to time spending the entire 
winter with their daughter, while every summer 
found the Richardses abandoning themselves to the 
freedom of country life at the old homestead in 
Massachusetts. 

Mrs. Richards had several times proposed to her 
father that he sell his farm and make a permanent 
home with her ; but Mr. Weston affirmed that as long 
as he was hale and hearty he could never tear him- 
self away from his native soil or give up his long- 
accustomed duties; while, too, he said the hustling, 
hurrying West was too rapid for him, and he pre- 
ferred the quiet routine of his more methodical 
life. 

Out in the potato field that bright afternoon, after 
their interesting noon hour on the porch, the observ- 
ing farmer found that Louis could hoe as vigorously 
and to as good purpose as he had done everything 
else that day. He proved himself very companion- 


STEP BY STEP 


49 


able, also, and as something of his shyness wore off 
he talked cheerily and freely with his new friend, 
who became more and more convinced that Aunt 
Martha was a remarkable woman, and had sown good 
seed in a fruitful soil. Evidently she was a woman 
of culture, notwithstanding her humble position in 
life — a woman of rigid honesty and unswerving prin- 
ciple in every respect; for the boy’s language was 
unusually correct and well chosen for one of his 
years; while, from an ethical viewpoint, he seemed 
to possess the ideals of a lofty and acutely discrimi- 
nating nature. 

Yet he did not pose as a prodigy. He was re- 
freshingly unconscious of self, spontaneous in his 
actions and expressions, and frequently bubbled over 
with genuine boyish spirits, not unmixed with a 
spice of mischief. 

Man and boy worked harmoniously together until 
five o’clock, when it was time to begin on the chores 
for the night. When these were done and Louis, 
hungry as a young bear after his busy afternoon, 
appeared in the homelike kitchen, thoughtfully bear- 
ing an armful of wood for Hannah’s box, Mrs. Wes- 
ton, who was assisting in preparing the evening meal, 
greeted him with a cheery smile, and remarked : 

“Well, Louis, if your work is all done you can 
go up to your room and put on some better clothes 
which you’ll find there. Mrs. Richards and I are 
going to town, after supper, to do some errands. 
Would you like to come with us ? ” 

“ Yes’m,” the boy replied, his face beaming with 


50 STEP BY STEP 

pleasure in view of clean apparel as well as of tlie 
proposed outing. 

He slipped away to the little chamber over the 
shed, where he found a suggestive pail of water, with 
soap and towels, awaiting him; also a neat brown 
suit of clothes, a clean shirt and blouse, with a pretty 
tie, which was but slightly defaced, even though it 
had evidently been worn. There were a pair of shoes 
and stockings also, both of which had seen service. 

He was not long taking his bath and getting into 
his suit, which proved to be a very good fit, and he 
heaved a sigh of intense satisfaction to find himself 
neat and clean, and looking more like the trim boy 
who had never worn soiled or ragged garments until 
he was deprived of Aunt Martha’s loving care. 

The stockings, even though darned in various 
places, felt good to his feet, which had known no 
covering for many weeks. The shoes, however, were 
rather large ; but he comforted %imself with the 
philosophical reflection : “ Better so than too tight, 
notwithstanding their clumsy proportions.” 

When he reappeared in the kitchen Mrs. Weston 
regarded him with a complacent . smile, and was 
quick to observe the straight, white parting of his 
hair, and particularly the more presentable appear- 
ance of his finger-nails. 

“ He has been carefully reared,” she said to her- 
self. “ Dear boy ! He looks and behaves like a little 
gentleman, and my heart yearns over him in his 
friendlessness.” 

After supper the carriage was driven to the door, 


STEP BY STEP 


5 1 

whereupon Mrs. Weston appropriated the back seat, 
while Mrs. Richards and Louis occupied the one 
in front. 

“Do you know how to drive, Louis?” inquired 
his companion, as her father passed the reins up to 
her. 

“ Yes’m ” — eagerly. 

“ Would you like to act as our coachman this even- 
ing ?' ” 

“ If you please ” — lifting a bright look to her, and 
flushing with pleasure in view of her manifest con- 
fidence in his. ability. 

A silvery laugh rippled over the lady’s lips as she 
put the lines in his hands. 

“ I thought I could not mistake that longing ex- 
pression in those brown eyes, and I am sure you do 
know how to drive,” she said, as she observed the 
way he laid hold upon the ribbons and drew his el- 
bows close in to Lis sides preparatory to starting off. 

It was less than half a mile to town — a lovely 
drive along a wide, well-graded road, lined with 
beautiful and stately trees, and flanked on either 
side with fine residences. 

Upon reaching the village the horse was hitched 
in front of one of the large stores, whereupon the 
trio went from place to place to make their various 
purchases, Louis proving himself very useful as bur- 
den-bearer, while he thoroughly enjoyed himself in 
this capacity and kept his bright eyes busy, taking 
in his surroundings, nothing of interest being allowed 
to escape them. 


52 


STEP BY STEP 


The last errand concerned him personally and con- 
sisted in the purchase of a pair of good serviceable 
shoes to fit him; some underclothing and a suitable 
hat for fall wear. His flushed face was a study while 
his new friends were buying these things and there 
was a troubled expression in his eyes which did not 
escape Mrs. Richards’ observation. 

“ How do you like it % ” she inquired when, after 
trying on several, she at last found a hat that suited 
her better than others. 

“ I like it very much ; but — ” he began doubtfully, 
when she gently checked him by asking gravely: 

“ Louis, didn’t Aunt Martha teach you who sup- 
plies all our needs ? ” 

“ Yes’m — God,” with a comprehensive nod, yet 
with a suspicious quiver of his round chin. 

“ Then it is not for us to question, or allow our 
pride to make us feel burdened in view of the way 
He takes to provide for our wants,” the lady pursued ; 
“ we are simply to be grateful and He will give the 
opportunity for a suitable expression of our grati- 
tude. How,” she went on brightly, “ we want a 
couple of new collars and a pretty necktie which are 
to be my own little offering, for I am going to ask 
a favor of you.” 

Louis lifted an eager face to her, thus plainly in- 
dicating how gladly he would grant anything she 
might ask; while as he met her smiling eyes his 
heart grew big and tender, just as it used to grow 
when, after he had done some special favor for her, 
Aunt Martha would throw her arm about his shouh 


STEP BY STEP 


53 

ders and say: “ I wonder what I should do without 
my little man of the house.” 

“ I’m going to ask you to act as my escort to church 
to-morrow morning,” the lady went on. “ Mr. Rich- 
ards is away on business and Pm not fond of going 
to church alone ; would you like to go with me ? ” 

“ Yes’m, I would,” replied Louis with a heartiness 
there was no mistaking. 

“ Thank you,” was the gracious rejoinder that made 
it seem as if the weight of obligation was all on her 
side, “ and we shall have to start very early, for I 
like to go by trolley into Boston at this time of the 
year.” 

“ Boston ! ” repeated Louis in an indescribable 
tone, while his face shone with delight, for far-famed 
Boston had always seemed to him the Mecca of the 
universe. 

“ Yes ; I judge you have never been there, so it will 
be an interesting trip for you, and I always attend 
church there when I come East. Now, I believe our 
purchases are all made and we will go home,” she 
concluded as, having received her change, she turned 
to leave the store, and Louis, gathering up her bun- 
dles, followed her. 

A very happy boy was early astir when morning 
broke again, and when Farmer Weston arose a little 
later than usual, as was his custom on the Sabbath, 
it was to find the stock all fed, most of the chores 
done and the milking well under way. 

When this duty was finished Louis drove the cows 
to pasture, with Ponce again in close attendance and 


54 


STEP BY STEP 


manifesting in various ways his pleasure in the com- 
panionship of the stray waif who had so opportunely 
found a welcome under the hospitable roof of his 
master. When they returned they were walking side 
by side, Louis’ hand resting affectionately upon the 
collie’s silken head, while the lad was singing in a 
clear, boyish treble one of the many hymns that he 
and Aunt Martha had so loved to sing together in 
their dear little home among the New Hampshire 
hills. 

Helen Richards, who was quietly reading in her 
own room, caught the familiar strains and paused to 
listen, a tender smile wreathing her lips. 

“ Dear child,” she said softly, u I am so glad 
father favors the suggestion to keep him here. I 
shall go back to Chicago with a light heart, feeling 
that I have left a flood of sunshine to brighten the 
dear old home and that one of His ‘ little ones ’ is 
being well cared for.” 

After breakfast, Louis brought up the potatoes 
and other vegetables for dinner, filled both hods with 
coal for Hannah, then slipped away to prepare for 
the much anticipated trip to Boston. 

He dressed with great care and flushed with pleas- 
ure upon taking a final survey of himself in the 
mirror; while his well-fitting shoes and “ nobby ” 
new hat appeared to afford him especial satisfaction. 

Then, obeying one of the tidy habits inculcated 
by Aunt Martha, he hung the clothing he had re- 
moved in his closet, in an orderly manner ; but while 
so doing a wad of paper dropped to the floor from 


STEP BY STEP 


55 


one of the pockets of his jacket. Picking it np he 
unfolded it, revealing a paper bag which seemed to 
contain some substance within it. 

“ Aha ! ” he cried, and, slipping his fingers in- 
side, he brought to light a chocolate cream, which, 
however, presented • a decidedly mashed and bat- 
tered appearance. He eyed it askance for a mo- 
ment, then deliberately thrust it between his lips 
and munched it with as much relish, apparently, as 
if it had been fresh from the confectioner’s estab- 
lishment. 

“ Just one left,” he mused as he turned his atten- 
tion again to the bag. “ Guess it might as well keep 
the other company — there are lots o’ good things to 
eat here and I don’t need to keep them for between 
meals now.” 

He was on the point of suiting the act to his 
words when he caught sight of a glittering object 
half embedded in the confection. 

“ By Jingo ! where did that come from ? ” he ex- 
claimed in great astonishment. 

“ That ” was a small gold ring, set with pretty 
blue stones, and which had worked its way half out 
of sight into his last chocolate cream — all that re- 
mained of the bag of candy which Miss Gipsy, his 
little acquaintance of the county fair, had bought 
expressly for him. 

The boy had treasured that gift most jealously, 
only now and then permitting himself the luxury 
of partaking of its contents, in order that he might 
retain some tangible reminder of that red-letter day 


STEP BY STEP 


56 

as long as possible. Nevertheless, now and then, 
when he had failed to get all that he needed to eat 
on his long tramps, he had been obliged to dip into 
it more frequently than he liked in order to appease 
the aching void in his hungry stomach. 

His great brown eyes wore a very startled look 
just now as he viewed that small circlet, the loss of 
which had caused such heartbroken grief from Miss 
Gipsy and spoiled her otherwise happy birthday. 

He was not long in arriving at correct conclusions, 
however, for he remembered having seen it gleam- 
ing on the pretty plump hand which she had reached 
out to receive the truant hat he had captured and 
returned to her. 

Then a laugh of amusement broke from him as 
he realized that that same small hand must have 
dipped into his bag of sweets before it had been pre- 
sented to him, when, doubtless, the ring had slipped 
from her finger and gradually worked its way to 
the bottom, where it had almost lost itself again in 
the very last of his sweetmeats. 

He detatched it and dropping it into his wash- 
basin carefully cleansed it, then wiped it dry on his 
towel, wondering all the while what he would do 
with it — how return it to its owner. He did not 
even know her name. He had heard her father ad- 
dress her as “ Gipsy ” and his son as “ Ted,” but 
aside from these household pet names he had ho 
clue whatever to the identity of the family. 

But he was suddenly interrupted in these reflec- 
tions by hearing the clock in the kitchen below strike 


STEP BY STEP 


57 


nine, and knew it was nearly time to start for church. 
He unbuttoned the front -of his blouse and shirt, 
and brought to light a strong twine that encircled 
his neck and from which there hung suspended a 
broad plain band of gold. 

It was his mother’s wedding ring — taken from 
her hand by Aunt Martha and given to him to 
keep as a precious legacy. With compressed lips 
and fingers that were visibly tremulous, he untied 
the knot and slipped Gipsy’s little birthday gift 
beside the other shining circlet, then retied the 
string and thrust his treasures out of sight, re- 
buttoned his clothing and went below to join Mrs. 
Richards who was awaiting him. 

“ How nice you look, Louis,” she remarked as 
her eyes took a critical survey of him from head 
to foot. “I am sure Mr. Richards would be very 
happy this bright morning if he could know what 
a congenial companion I have to accompany me 
to church. Come, now, we have only just about 
time to catch our car;” 

It was a charming ride over the country roads to 
town. The day was perfect. The sun had never 
seemed quite so bright, the sky so blue or the floating 
clouds so fleecy white; while the foliage on every 
hand was ablaze with gorgeous tints that thrilled 
the beholder to silence with wonder and reverence 
for the Master Hand that had painted such mar- 
velous hues. And when they entered the beautiful 
church which Mrs. Richards attended, an atmos- 
phere of wondrous peace seemed, to Louis, to brood 


58 STEP BY STEP 

over the place and hallow the service which followed. 

It was an experience, a day, a service, a peace 
which left a lasting impress on the walls of mem- 
ory’s hall for all time. The sorrows, the hardships, 
the loneliness of the past few weeks were all for- 
gotten — submerged beneath those uplifting influ- 
ences and the joy that filled his consciousness — when 
the service was over and he passed out upon the 
street with his kind friend and up to the avenue 
where they were to take their car for home. 

While they were waiting on the corner, two rough- 
looking men came out of a building on the opposite 
side of the street, where they stood talking for a 
few moments, then parted, one boarding a passing 
trolley, the other staggering to a near-by lamp-post, 
against which he leaned for support, in some doubt, 
apparently, regarding his ability to go on his way. 

Neither Louis nor Mrs. Richards had observed 
either of them particularly, nor dreamed of the 
presence of an enemy to disturb their harmony until 
a repulsive oath greeted their ears and a heavy hand 
was laid on Louis’ shoulder, when, turning suddenly, 
he found himself gazing into a pair of familiar 
sinister eyes which were fastened with a look of 
evil triumph upon him. 


STEP BY STEP 


59 


CHAPTER V 


“ O— h ! ” 

It was a long-drawn, shuddering breath, rather 
than a startled cry, and instantly all the brightness 
faded out of Louis’ face, leaving him white and 
wild-eyed from fear and dismay. 

“ Aha ! So ye’re caught at last, eh ? and this is 
a fine piece of luck for me ! ” chuckled the man glee- 
fully as he gave his captive a vindictive shake. Then 
as his glance swept the hoy’s neatly clad figure from 
head to foot, noting his new hat and shoes, he went 
on : “ Great Scott ! haven’t you grown a fine bird 
since you left the farm! Who’s payin’ the bills, I 
wonder ! ” And he supplemented his observations 
with a rude laugh and a revolting string of oaths. 

“ Stop, sir ! Release the boy ! ” 

The command was very quietly spoken, hut with 
an authoritative intonation which instantly produced 
effect, for the man’s hand involuntarily relaxed its 
grip upon Louis, while he turned his bloodshot 
eyes with a stare of stupid surprise upon the speaker. 

“Eh!” he ejaculated, shrinking hack a pace 
or two and evidently somewhat disconcerted upon 
finding himself confronted by the self-possessed, 
elegant-clad woman who had addressed him. 

“ What have you to do with this boy ? Why arc 


6o 


STEP BY STEP 


you so rude to him % ” Mrs. Richards demanded, 
at the same time laying a reassuring hand upon 
Louis’ arm; and yet she suspected something of the 
truth. 

“ That’s a matter that needn’t concern you, marm, 
if you’ll excuse me for saying it.” And Louis’ as- 
sailant began to bridle again while his language and 
manner were characterized by the utmost coarseness 
and insolence. 

u It certainly does concern me, sir,” Mrs. 
Richards asserted with quiet dignity, “ for the boy 
is under my care.” 

“ Under your care, is he ? That’s a good one ! ” 
sneered the intoxicated boor with a malicious leer. 
“ P’raps you don’t know he’s nothing but a sneaking 
little pauper who belongs to the poor-farm up in 
— New Hampshire.” 

“ Ah ! Louis, do you know this man ? Has he 
any authority over you ? ” Helen Richards inquired 
with a compassionate look in her gentle eyes as she 
turned to her youthful crestfallen companion. 

“Yes’m; he’s Nathan Black, the superintendent 
at the farm,” Louis admitted with downcast eyes 
and white, trembling lips. 

“ That’s right ; you see he don’t quite like to 
give an old friend the cold shoulder, for all he’s 
grown such gay plumage and caught on to such 
high-toned nabobs since he took French leave of our 
fine institution up country,” Nathan Black inter- 
posed with malicious sarcasm. “ But come on,” he 
roughly commanded. “ I’ll relieve the lady of all 


STEP BY STEP 


61 


further care of you and to-morrow morning we’ll 
make tracks for New Hampshire. I tell you ” — 
with an ugly grin — “ we’ve been downright lone- 
some without you, you — runaway beggar; and we’ll 
make it all-fired interesting for you when we get 
you back again,” and his brawny hand closed once 
more with a fierce clutch upon Louis’ shoulder. 

“ I — will never go back to that farm ” 

The words fell from the boy’s lips with a firmness 
and decision that betrayed a dauntless spirit; and 
as he gave slow utterance to them he resolutely threw 
back his head and looked straight into the eyes of 
the brute before him. 

“ Eh ! you won’t go back to the farm ? We’ll see 
about that, you — ” and another volley of oaths 
poured from his vile lips. 

(c Well, if you take me back I shall run away 
again,” Louis inflexibly asserted, his steadfast look 
never wavering. “ I know I’m only a boy and 
there’s nobody in the world to take care of me; 
but I’m never going to be a pauper upon any 
town.” 

With a dexterous movement he wrenched himself 
free from his captor’s grasp and quietly stepped back 
to Mrs. Richards’ side; though being fleet of foot 
as a deer, he could easily have taken refuge in flight 
and so made good his escape from his unfortunate 
predicament. 

Nathan Black’s face grew purple with rage at 
thus being defied and he lifted his powerful arm, 
as if to strike the boy a cruel blow. But Mrs. Rich- 


62 STEP BY STEP 

ards here calmly stepped in between them and faced 
the man. 

“ Mr. Black,” she observed with quiet dignity, 
“ it may be that you have authority to compel Louis 
to return to New Hampshire with you; but you 
are certainly in no condition to-day to provide for 
his comfort in a proper manner. I will give you 
my address and you can come out to-morrow morn- 
ing, when we will talk this matter over and may, 
perhaps, have some satisfactory proposition to make 
you regarding the boy.” 

“ No, .you don’t, marm. I’m not going to let my 
bird slip away from me now that I have got my paw 
on him. You’re a mighty smooth-spoken woman, and 
you may mean to do the square thing,” he went on, 
his eyes wavering and falling beneath her pure, 
direct gaze ; “ but he’s got to go back, and I’m not 
going to lose sight of him — understand ? ” 

He had moved a pace or two nearer her while 
speaking and Helen Bichards shrank involuntarily 
away from him, for his hot, liquor-tainted breath 
was too offensive to be borne and his personal ap- 
pearance repulsive in the extreme. She made no 
reply to his query, but stood for a moment, looking 
thoughtfully up the avenue, trying to think of some 
way of escape from the perplexing situation. She 
felt that it would be of no avail to reason with 
the man in his semi-intoxicated state, and yet 
she could not for a moment tolerate the idea of al- 
lowing Louis to go with him perhaps to some low, 
sin-laden locality where he doubtless would be neg- 


STEP BY STEP 


6 3 

lected if not ill-used. Suddenly her face lighted 
as the blue-coated figure of a policeman came into 
view, whereupon she signaled to him, and the next 
moment he was close at hand courteously inquiring: 

“ What is it, madam % Can I assist you in any 
way ? ” 

She briefly explained the situation and concluded 
by saying: 

“ You can see for yourself that the man is in 
no condition to take charge of the boy. I feel it my 
duty to insist upon taking him home with me; hut 
I will give the superintendent my address and pledge 
my word that he will find him there whenever he 
chooses to come for him ” 

“ It won’t do, marm ; I’ve no time nor money to 
waste running about the country for truant boys,” 
Hathan Black here blusteringly interposed, although 
it was evident he was very ill at ease in the presence 
of the guardian of the public peace. 

“ It will not take him out of his way at all, Mr. 
Officer, for an electric line and the Boston and 
Maine Railway both run through the town,” Mrs. 
Richards persisted, u and we are not five minutes’ 
walk from the former.” 

The officer had listened respectfully to her story 
and realized that she was in the right; while, too, 
his sympathies were strongly enlisted for the manly 
little fellow who had borne himself so well during 
the controversy, for he had had his eye on the group 
for several moments before the lady had appealed 
to him. 


STEP BY STEP 


64 

“ Let the boy go with madam,” he briefly com- 
manded, when she ceased speaking. 

“ Not if I know it,” fiercely retorted the dis- 
comfited superintendent, with a supplemental oath. 

The policeman lifted his hand authoritatively. 

“ Let the boy go,” he repeated sternly. “ As the 
lady says, you are not fit to look out for him, and 
you can go for him to-morrow, if you are bound to 
take him back to New Hampshire with you. Not 
a word, sir ! ” as the crestfallen man again began 
to bluster, 61 or I shall run you in for breaking the 
peace.” 

Mrs. Richards hastily wrote her father’s address 
on a slip of paper, which she found in her purse, and 
passed it to the officer, who, after reading it, handed 
it to Nathan Black. 

The man accepted it most ungraciously, stood ir- 
resolute for a moment, then with a surly scowl at 
Louis turned and walked unsteadily away, mutter- 
ing angrily to himself as he went. 

The policeman stood by Mrs. Richards and Louis 
until their car came along, when he helped the lady 
aboard, politely touching his hat to her in response 
to her graciously spoken thanks for his timely as- 
sistance and kindness, 

Mrs. Richards sat absorbed in thought for some 
time after they had started on their way. She was 
considerably exercised in her mind regarding what 
had just occurred. She felt that it would be a 
great wrong to Louis to allow him to return to the 
miserable life from which he had fled and again 
come under the influence of a man so uncultured 


and so lacking in moral responsibility as Nathan 
Black appeared to be. 

“ Something mnst be done to rescue this dear 
boy,” she mused. “ I cannot be reconciled to such 
a fate for him.” 

Glancing at him, she found him looking very 
grave, and in his dark eyes there was a pathetic 
expression of patient endurance that touched her 
deeply. 

“ Louis,” she said softly in his ear, “ we must 
not forget that there is One who overrules all evil, 
so ‘ let not your heart be troubled/ ” and she con- 
cluded by giving him an encouraging little pat on 
the shoulder. 

“ I — I’m afraid I don’t quite know how to get 
along without worrying about this,” the boy replied 
in a repressed tone. “ I don’t want to go back to 
that farm. I know it isn’t the right place for me, 
and ” 

“ Well, dear, it is a good deal to know that,” his 
companion hastened to say, as he choked up sud- 
denly ; “ and now if you can also know that God’s 
child can never be anywhere but in his proper place, 
God will surely take care of the rest of it.” 

Louis glanced up quickly at her, giving her a 
comprehensive nod, and drew in a long, deep breath. 
A gleam of comfort had come to him with her re- 
assuring words. 

“ That is just what Aunt Martha would have 
said,” he returned, with a smile that chased much 
of the anxiety from his young face and left him 
brighter and more light-hearted. 


66 


STEP BY STEP 


“ I think that dear woman must be perfectly 
lovely,” observed Helen Richards, a thrill of emo- 
tion in her voice as she realized what a lasting in- 
fluence for good Miss Wellington had exercised 
upon the character of this child whom she had be- 
friended when deprived of his father and mother. 

“ She is,” the boy positively affirmed. “ Every- 
body loved her, though sometimes they used to laugh 
at her ‘ queer notions/ as they called them ; but you 
couldn’t come where she was without feeling that 
she loved you and that everything would go all right 
as long as she was around. If I couldn’t have my 
mother, I — I wish I might have kept Aunt Martha,” 
he concluded, with a wistful sigh that went straight 
to his listener’s heart. 

“ But what would those dear little children out 
in Colorado have done without her ? ” she gently in- 
quired. 

“ I didn’t think of that. I suppose they did need 
her most and they are her own folks too,” responded 
Louis, quick to perceive the delicately implied re- 
proof. 

“ Well, dear, we must not forget that God is both 
father and mother to all His children, and everything 
will come right if we do our best and leave the 
results to Him,” his companion rejoined, adding: 
“ We really do not need to worry about the affairs 
of to-morrow simply because we cannot see our 
way clear to-day, any more than we need to fear 
that some evil will overtake us during the night be- 
cause the sun has disappeared and left the earth 
in darkness ; for we know that the sun is still shin- 


STEP BY STEP 


67 

ing and if we wait patiently all will be bright again. 
Ah! see how beautiful the lake is with all those 
gorgeous colors reflected in its clear depths ! ” she 
suddenly exclaimed, with gleaming eyes, as the car 
rounded a curve in the road and revealed a lovely 
sheet of water surrounded by overhanging trees, 
their foliage brilliant with a thousand wonderful 
tints that were faithfully reproduced in all their 
richness on its shining surface. “ What a delight- 
ful world this is after all,” she concluded with an 
appreciative sigh. 

Louis’ glance rested admiringly upon the ex- 
quisite picture, his somber eyes gradually brighten- 
ing, his heavy heart involuntarily rebounding be- 
neath an inspiration something like that which 
Longfellow must have experienced when he sang: 

There is a beautiful spirit breathing now 
Its mellow richness on the clustered trees, 

And from a beaker full of richest dyes 
Pouring new glory on the autumn woods 
And dripping in warm light its pillared clouds. 

Then after a minute or two he turned an almost 
adoring look upon the soul-lighted countenance be- 
side him. 

“ If everybody was as kind as you and your folks, 
and if everybody had a father and mother and a 
good home, I think it would be a beautiful world,” 
he returned, but with a plaintive note in his tones 
that was meltingly pathetic. 


68 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTEE VI 

After her return from church and their Sunday 
dinner was over Mrs. Richards related to Mr. and 
Mrs. Weston what had occurred in connection with 
Louis and the intoxicated superintendent who had 
so inopportunely appeared upon the scene; where- 
upon there followed a grave discussion regarding 
the boy’s future and what could be done to enable 
him to make the most of himself in life. 

“ As I said last night, I don’t really need a boy, 
with a man on the place,” Farmer Weston reflec- 
tively observed while discussing a plan that had 
already been talked over, “ at the same time he’s 
mighty handy to have around, and, after what you 
have just told me, I’d even be willing to make a 
place for him rather than have him go back to that 
Few Hampshire poor-farm to be under a brute such 
as you describe.” 

“ And you wouldn’t feel it a burden, father, to 
assume such a responsibility at your time of life ? ” 
his daughter inquired. 

“ A burden, Helen ! no, indeed ; he has made me 
feel younger already during the few days he has 
been here. He is a bright, smart little chap and 
I’m drawn to him; but perhaps mother ” 

He paused abruptly and glanced inquiringly at 
his wife. 


STEP BY STEP 


69 

“ ‘ Mother 7 will only be too happy if it can be 
arranged, as I told you last night / 7 Mrs. Weston has- 
tened to affirm, adding: “ I 7 ve seen many a lonely 
day since Clifford went home and wished we had 
a nice boy here to fill his place.” 

Clifford was the son of a favorite niece, and had 
spent the previous year with the Westons, attending 
a select school in a neighboring town, while his 
parents were traveling abroad. It was his out- 
grown clothing which had been bestowed upon 
Louis. 

“ Dear mamma ! you are always ready to reach 
out a helping hand / 7 said Mrs. Richards apprecia- 
tively. “ It will be no sinecure to assume the train- 
ing of such a boy / 7 she resumed meditatively, 
“ although any one can see that he is well-bred and 
has been under lovely influences, especially during 
the last two years. There will be expense, too; 
but Will and I will take care of that if you will give 
him the home — that is, if we can arrange the legal 
formalities. However, William, being a lawyer, 
will know how to manage that part of it, and he 
will be here to-morrow morning . 77 

They talked more at length upon the subject, and 
Louis would have been very happy if he could have 
known of the many plans that were discussed in 
connection with his future — provided the superin- 
tendent would give him up. 

His sleep was restful and unbroken that night, 
in spite of the impending fate which seemed to 
point to an enforced return to the obnoxious con- 


7 o STEP BY STEP 

ditions in life from which he had fled only a few 
weeks previous. 

But he arose even earlier than usual the next 
morning and went directly to the chopping block 
upon which he began vigorous work. 

“ If I’ve got to go Til leave Hannah a good pile 
of wood to remember me by,” he had mentally as- 
serted, while dressing himself in the dim light of the 
early dawn. 

He and Hannah had become great friends during 
the few days of his sojourn in the farmhouse. He 
had won her heart by his readiness to forestall her 
needs; by keeping her coal scuttles and wood box 
well filled; running to the cellar for vegetables, and 
upon other errands too numerous to mention; while 
in return, instinctively knowing how the growing 
boy craves frequent reenforcements for his active 
digestion she kept him generously supplied with 
gingerbread, cookies and doughnuts which he 
affirmed were the u very nicest he had ever tasted.” 

On this occasion, too, he knew that only work and 
plenty of it would keep him from becoming very 
restless and unhappy while awaiting the dreaded 
appearance of the superintendent. 

Mr. Richards returned during the forenoon, when 
he was warmly welcomed by the various members 
of the family. Ho time was lost in telling him 
the history of the stray waif who had wandered into 
their fold during his absence, and their benevolent 
plans for him. 

His sympathies also were at once enlisted for 


STEP BY STEP 


7i 

the boy, and he said there would be no difficulty in 
getting him legally transferred to their guardian- 
ship, provided he was willing to be so bound. He 
advised, however, that nothing be said to Louis to 
arouse his hopes until after he had looked into the 
matter more fully. 

The forenoon passed. Still Nathan Black did not 
come. Hour after hour they looked for him; mo- 
ment by moment they expected him, and when at 
last the sun, like a huge ball of fire, rolled softly 
out of sight behind a bank of gorgeous crimson and 
purple clouds and they knew it was too late for any 

local train to reach the town of in New 

Hampshire that night, they began to think, with 
lightened hearts, that perhaps he might not come 
at all. 

When the chores were all done, the stock com- 
fortably bedded for the night, and the barn doors 
safely locked, Mr. Weston and Louis leisurely bent 
their steps toward the house, breathing freely for 
the first time that day, 

u Well, my lad, your man didn’t put in an ap- 
pearance, after all,” the farmer observed, while his 
glance rested very kindly upon his youthful com- 
panion. 

Louis lifted a pair of brilliant eyes to him. The 
man’s tone was so kind, his look so friendly, and his 
own relief so great, the last vestige of the burden 
of dread that had oppressed him all day in spite of 
his efforts to “ let God take care of it,” rolled from 
his heart and he suddenly felt light as air. 


STEP BY STEP 


72 

The next moment he let forth a resounding whoop 
of triumph as he turned a complete somersault and 
came up standing, flushed and smiling, before his 
friend. 

“ Well, I declare ! there’s no whoa to a boy ! ” Mr. 
Weston exclaimed, with a chuckle of appreciation, 
in view of the clever feat. “ You’ve worked like a 
trooper all day and yet you are as frisky as a colt 
just turned out to pasture. I should think you’d 
be too tired to move.” 

“ < Tired,’ repeated Louis with another exultant 
shout, as over he went again. “ I’m too glad to be 
tired,” he added, panting from the exertion as he 
regained his feet. 

“ Glad because that man, Black, didn’t come ? ” 

Louis nodded, and stooped to recover his hat, 
which he had tossed upon the ground previous to his 
athletic performances. 

“ So you’ve been dreading him all day ? ” in- 
quiringly remarked his companion. 

“ Yes, sir ; but it’s all gone now — the dread.” 

“ You think he won’t come at all ? ” 

“ I don’t know ; he may,” said Louis thought- 
fully; “but I don’t believe I’ll ever go back to the 
farm to live.” 

“ H’m. What has given you that assurance ? ” 
and Mr. Weston eyed him curiously, wondering if 
he could have overheard anything that would lead 
him to suspect the plans which the family had in 
mind for him. 

Louis flushed and seemed embarrassed by the 
question. 


STEP BY STEP 


73 

u Tell me, my boy ; I would really like to know 
what has made you so light-hearted all at once.” 
The farmer’s tone was kindly insistent. 

u ’Twas something Mrs. Richards told me yester- 
day,” returned Louis, in a low voice, while he diffi- 
dently dug a grimy toe into the ground. 

“ Well, what was it she told you ? ” 

u She — said — if I would know that God’s child 
can never be anywhere but in his proper place, God 
would take care of the rest of it ; and I’ve been say- 
ing it over all day and trying to feel it,” the boy ex- 
plained. 

“ And you believed it — you’ve really trusted like 
that % ” said the farmer with a sense of condemna- 
tion for his own lack of faith as compared with this 
child-like confidence. 

“ I’ve tried to. It’s been a kind of see-saw most 
all day between being afraid and knowing; but the 
more I’ve said it over, the more sure I’ve grown to 
feel about it, till now I don’t feel afraid at all.” 
His placid face testified to the truth of his 
words. 

“ IL’m ! What you and Mrs. Richards call 
‘ knowing,’ I should say was a saving kind of faith 
— rather better than the 6 mustard-seed ’ kind I’ve 
been sowing for more’n forty years without getting 
a very satisfactory harvest,” reflectively remarked 
the man. “ But — suppose, after all, that man should 
come along to-morrow morning and trot you off to 
Hew Hampshire with him ? ” 

Mr. Weston was uncomfortably conscious that this 


74 


STEP BY STEP 


was rather a cruel thrust; but he was unaccountably 
impelled to put the boy to the test. 

Louis’ face fell and he did not reply for a mo- 
ment. 

“ Well,” he said at length, “ that wouldn’t prove 
that it was the ‘ right place ’ for me, and I ” — 
swallowing hard — “ I should try to keep on knowing 
that God would take care of it, just the same.” 

Farmer Weston moved on again toward the house 
without making any further comment on the sub- 
ject; but his face wore a very thoughtful look. A 
little later he repeated this conversation to his wife 
and gravely observed in conclusion: 

“ There’s a difference between Helen’s and that 
boy’s faith and mine — it’s certainly stronger to 
‘ know ’ than to ‘ believe.’ I guess our girl hasn’t 
got so far off the track, after all, and if that’s the 
kind of religion she’s been getting, with those queer 
notions of her, I’m not going to quarrel with her 
any more about it.” 

Mrs. Weston smiled serenely upon her husband 
without replying. She had long been growing in 
sympathy with her daughter’s higher thought and 
interpretation of the .Bible, while her husband, on 
the contrary, had been very much opposed to any 
innovations upon his established creed and its literal 
explications. 

Although secretly amazed by this acknowledged 
concession, Mrs. Weston, being a wise woman, knew 
when to let well enough alone and discreetly held 
her peace. 


STEP BY STEP 


15 

u A little child shall lead them/’ she quoted soft- 
ly to herself, however, as she left him to go and tell 
Louis that Mr. Richards wanted to have a little talk 
with him before he went to bed. 

She found him in the kitchen having a social chat 
with Hannah, and after delivering her message she 
observed : 

“ You’d better put on your other clothes first, then 
come into the sitting-room.” 

Louis bounded nimbly away to his chamber, whis- 
tling merrily, as he proceeded to obey her behest. 

He had only seen Mr. Richards from a distance 
as yet; but after thoughtfully studying him for a 
minute or two he had decided that he was O. K. 
and just about the kind of man he would expect 
and like Mrs. Richards’ husband to be. 

Mrs. Weston was waiting for him in the kitchen 
when he came down and led him into a room he 
had not seen before, and where he found Mr. and 
Mrs. Richards seated by a blazing wood fire, for the 
evening had grown chilly after the sun went down. 

Mr. Richards, an intellectual, fine-looking man, 
greeted Louis in a cordial, off-hand way that at once 
put the hoy at ease, then immediately broached the 
subject he wished to discuss. 

“ Mrs. Richards has told me your story, Louis,” 
he began, “ and how desirous you are to find a 
better home than the farm where you have been 
living. How do you think you would like to live 
here with Mr. Weston?” 

The boy’s face grew radiant. 


STEP BY STEP 


76 

“ Could I ? Does he want me ? Would Mr. 
Black let me ? ” he burst forth, almost breathless 
from the joyful leap his heart had given at the un- 
expected proposition. 

“ There cannot be much doubt about your attitude 
regarding such an arrangement,” remarked the gen- 
tleman, smiling at his eagerness. “ Mr. Black can 
have no voice whatever in the matter; that will be 
settled by the proper authorities in the town where 
you have lived. Mrs. Richards has set her face very 
strongly against your going back there, and, as Mr. 
Weston thinks he would like to have just such a 
boy as you about the place, she has proposed that 
he keep you with him, if you think you could be 
happy here.” 

Louis turned an adoring look upon the beautiful, 
daintily-robed woman, who, sitting on one side of 
the fireplace, made a lovely picture, with the red 
light of the flames playing over her; while she, 
meeting his glance, returned it with a friendly nod 
and smile. 

“ There isn’t any if about it, sir,” positively 
affirmed the boy, but in a voice that was suspiciously 
tremulous. 

“ That’s easy, then,” said Mr. Richards in a 
cheery tone ; “ and now if the New Hampshire 
business can be arranged as quickly and harmoni- 
ously — and I think it can — we’ll soon be able to 
make a Massachusetts citizen of you. How old are 
you, my boy ? ” 

“ Twelve, the tenth of last July.” 


STEP BY STEP 


77 


“ Twelve ? Not quite old enough yet to be allowed 
to choose your own guardians ; but if you could have 
your say about it, do you think you would be willing 
to trust me to manage your future until you are 
twenty-one? Mr. Weston thinks he would prefer 
me to assume that responsibility.” 

The gentleman awaited the youth’s reply with no 
little interest. 

Louis’ dark eyes swept both faces before him in 
a lightning glance. 

“ I’d trust any of you with everything ” he burst 
forth impulsively, but with certain signs of emotion 
which warned his friends that he was getting too 
full for utterance, and it might be as well to change 
the subject for the time. 

“ I thank you in the name of the family, Louis,” 
returned Mr. Richards with a pleasant laugh ; “ and 
since you are so complacent we will regard these 
preliminaries as settled and await the next move 
from Mr. Black before we take any further steps. 
Now, dear,” turning to his wife, “ suppose we have 
a hymn or two before Louis goes to bed ? ” 

Mrs. Richards went at once to the piano and the 
“ hymn or two ” proved to be half a dozen. Louis 
was invited to join in any that he knew, and, being 
familiar with most of them, his fresh, boyish treble 
harmonized very pleasantly with their maturer 
voices. 

Farmer Weston and his wife, sitting in a small 
adjoining room, paused, the one in his reading, the 
other in her sewing, to listen, an expression of keen 


STEP BY STEP 


78 

enjoyment on their faces. Mr. Weston even 
hummed a musical tenor to the second verse of an 
old-time favorite of his: 

“ Beneath His watchful eye 
His saints securely dwell. 

The hand that bears creation up 
Shall guard His children well.” 

“ That sounds like a different song as they sing 
it, father,” Mrs. Weston observed, with shining eyes. 
u They seem to know that they are ‘ secure ’ and 
every word bristles with a different meaning. Lis- 
ten ! ” she added as the last two lines of the next 
verse rang melodiously and triumphantly through 
the whole house: 

“ Til drop my burden at His feet 
And bear a song away.” 

“ That’s just what they know how to do — just 
what Louis has done to-day — drop their burdens,” 
she went on wistfully. “ Or rather, they never seem 
to have any burdens to drop; they’re always well 
and happy; never anxious, care-worn or tired. It 
certainly is a more practical religion than we’ve been 
taught, Benjamin.” 

“ I’m not so sure about that, mother ; I’m in- 
clined to think our good old faith has helped us to 
bear a good many burdens during the forty years 
we’ve pulled together,” her husband opposed with 


STEP BY STEP 


79 

a familiar settling of his square chin which betrayed 
that he was not yet ready to forsake the well-beaten 
paths of his Presbyterian fraternity. 

“ I know weVe tried to think so, but it has never 
kept us from worrying ourselves almost to death be- 
fore some of them rolled off. We’ve said God would 
overrule everything for good and we’ve claimed we 
believed His promises; but we have never really 
trusted or dropped the burden and begun to sing 
because we knew He would do as He promised,” 
Mrs. Weston remarked, as, with hands lying idly 
upon her neglected work, she thoughtfully rocked 
back and forth in her chair. “ We did not know 
how to let go,” she went on musingly, “ but Helen 
does, and I believe that boy has the secret of it, too. 
If he stays with us I shall watch the practical ap- 
plication of his faith with a great deal of interest.” 

“Well, maybe you’re right, mother,” Farmer 
Weston at length observed, although it was evident 
he was laboring under strong constraint, “ maybe 
you’re right, and I’ve no authority to clip your 
wings, if you’ve begun to soar into Helen’s higher 
atmosphere; but I’ve always felt that the old way 
was good enough for me; and you and I have kept 
pace for so many years, I had grown to feel that we 
would go on together to the end of the journey.” 

He stopped abruptly and turned back to the book 
he had been reading; but evidently it had lost its 
interest for him, for, after nervously turning its 
pages for a few minutes, he laid it down, arose, and 
left the room. 


8o 


STEP BY STEP 


“ He isn’t satisfied with the old ruts any more 
than I am,” murmured his wife, gazing wistfully 
at the door through which he had passed. “ The 
‘ old way ’ is good as far as it goes, but — it doesn’t 
go far enough.” 

She resumed her sewing, taking a few stitches 
until a great tear splashed down upon it; then an- 
other and another, when, casting it aside, she drew 
her Bible from her work-basket and was soon ab- 
sorbed in the study of its well-worn pages. 



He approached the house with a heavy step and a surly air. 

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STEP BY STEP 


81 


CHAPTER YII 

After breakfast on Tuesday morning, just as 
Mr. Weston and Louis, armed with their hoes and 
basket, were on the point of starting again for the 
potato field, they observed a man enter the side yard 
and approach the house with a heavy step and 
surly air. 

“ There he comes ! ” exclaimed Louis, with a 
quick indrawn breath of dismay, while Ponce, 
also catching sight of the intruder, uttered a warn- 
ing bark of disapproval. 

“ The man Black ? ” inquired Mr. Weston, bend- 
ing a look of keen scrutiny upon the unwelcome 
stranger. 

u Yes, sir ; be still, Ponce ! ” and Louis’ hand 
closed firmly over the collar of the dog, who showed 
a decided inclination to make himself disagreeable 
to the intruder. 

The superintendent by no means presented a very 
prepossessing appearance as he came nearer. He 
was even more repulsive than when he had accosted 
Louis on Sunday. His bloated, crimson face and 
bloodshot eyes gave unmistakable evidence of the 
demoralizing debauch of the last few days. His 
linen was soiled and wrinkled, his clothes dusty and 
defaced; and his unsteady gait betrayed that he 
was still under the influence of liquor. 


82 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Here, you young rascal ! ” he called out coarsely 
as he caught sight of Louis. “ Get on your togs 
and come along. We’ll go as far as Lowell by the 
electrics and take a train from there. Get a move 
on, can’t you ? Don’t stand there staring at nothing, 
as if you’d lost your wits,” he concluded, with an 
impatient oath, for the boy seemed half-dazed by 
his appearance. He had really begun to feel that 
the man would never come for him. 

Mr. Richards, who had been sitting upon the 
porch, now arose and moved toward the steps. 

“ Good morning, sir,” was his courteous greeting. 
“ I infer that you are Mr. Black ? ” 

“ Well, that is supposed to be my name,” the man 
returned, with an aggressively rising inflection on 
each word, at the same time plunging his hands into 
his pockets and facing the gentleman with a defiant 
air. 

“ Come up on the porch, Mr. Black, and have a 
chair while you are waiting,” Mr. Richards contin- 
ued in a friendly tone, as he placed a comfortable 
rocker for their ill-mannered visitor. “ I would like 
to have a little talk with you regarding Louis,” he 
added. 

Nathan Black shot a curious look at the speaker, 
who, ignoring his rudeness, had addressed him with 
the utmost politeness. He hesitated an instant, as 
if uncertain of his ground, then boldly swaggered 
forward and threw himself noisily into the proffered 
chair. 


STEP BY STEP 


83 

“ Well, what have you got to say about the brat? ” 
he sullenly demanded. 

“ Louis came to us last Thursday ; he has made 
himself very helpful and agreeable, and we, as a 
family, have become deeply interested in him and 
would like to keep him with us,” said Mr. Eichards, 
coming at once to the point. “ We feel he is too 
bright a boy to be reared on a poor-farm, and as my 
father-in-law, Mr. Weston,” glancing at the farmer 
who had approached near enough to overhear the 
conversation, “ is willing to give him a home for 
what he can do, while between us we will see that 
he is properly educated, I intended, as you did not 
come for him yesterday, to write to the officers of 
your town to-day and make them a proposition to 
this effect.” 

“ That would he mighty fine for the boy ! ” 
sneered the superintendent, with a sinister leer at 
Louis, which caused Ponce to prick up his ears and 
growl threateningly in return ; “ but I’ve nothing to 
do with your ‘ propositions.’ The overseers of the 
poor put the young beggar in my care, and as I’m 
responsible for him, he’s got to go hack with me, now 
I’ve found him. There’s been a devil of a fuss 
over his disappearance, as it is.” 

Disagreeable rumors regarding the man’s ill treat- 
ment of the hoy had been circulated in the town, 
whereupon there had ensued an uncomfortable in- 
vestigation, which by no means had increased his 
liking for Louis. 

“ Suppose I pledge my word to send him back 


STEP BY STEP 


84 

at my own expense if the authorities reject our pro- 
posals ? ” Mr. Weston here interposed. 

“ Ho, sir; he’s got to go back with me to-day/’ 
doggedly affirmed Nathan Black, his flushed face 
taking on an even deeper hue from jealousy and ill- 
will, in view of the esteem in which Louis appeared 
to be held by his new friends. 

“ Very well, if that is your decision, I shall ac- 
company him and make my proposals verbally,” 
observed Mr. Richards with an air of sudden de- 
termination, and rising as he spoke to get himself 
in readiness for the trip. “ Perhaps, after all, it 
will be the better plan and bring the matter to an 
earlier settlement. Louis,” approaching the youth, 
who had quietly remained in the background, “ go, 
get ready ; Mr. Black refuses to allow you to remain 
with us, so I am going along with you to see what 
can be done for you. It will all come out right, my 
boy, so have no fear — I am almost sure I shall bring 
you back with me,” he concluded encouragingly, 
as he noticed the anxious look in the boy’s eyes 
and that he had grown very white about the mouth. 

Louis turned reluctantly away and mounted to 
his room. His heart was heavy and his steps fal- 
tered; but, recalling Mr. Weston’s questions of the 
previous evening and his own replies, he bravely 
tried to keep on, “ knowing that God would take care 
of it.” “ He isn’t going back on His word when He 
has promised to give us what we ask for,” he said 
to himself as he was hurriedly dressing for his trip ; 
and almost instantly the burden of fear and dread 


STEP BY STEP 85 

rolled from his heart again, leaving him calm and 
hopeful. 

Fifteen minutes later, the trio were on their way 
to Hew Hampshire with the expectation of reaching 
their destination late that afternoon. 

Ponce would have followed Louis, and whined 
piteously when his master sternly commanded: 
“ Come back and lie down, sir ! ” The collie ap- 
peared to know that something was going wrong with 
his new friend, and several times during the day he 
wandered down to the gate through which the boy 
had passed and stood looking wistfully in the direc- 
tion he had gone. 

The party had a long ride to the county town in 
Hew Hampshire, where, after an hour’s wait, they 
were to take a local train going in another direction, 
and where, too, Louis was first introduced to our 
readers at the fair. 

Here Mr. Richards, thinking he betrayed signs 
of restlessness and thirst, asked Hathan Black to lead 
the way to the best inn in the place, saying he was 
hungry and would act as host for the party; where- 
upon they proceeded to a very good hotel, where an 
appetizing and well-cooked dinner was served them, 
the self-constituted host taking care that most of the 
hour was spent at the table, so leaving only a few 
minutes in which to catch their train, thus making 
it impossible for the superintendent to secure a 
coveted drink. Consequently, for the first time in 
years, after one of his periodical visits to Boston, 
Hathan Black returned to his home a sober man. 


86 


STEP BY STEP 


Upon reaching their destination Mr. Richards, 
accompanied by Louis, at once sought the proper 
town officials and laid his proposals before them. 

It is almost needless to say that they found im- 
mediate favor, for there was hardly a family in the 
place who had not been deeply grieved to have so 
promising a boy as Louis, the son of one of their 
most respected citizens, consigned to the doleful life 
and doubtful influences of their home for the poor; 
but many had large families and heavy responsi- 
bilities of their own and could not add to them, 
while others were too poor to assume a burden which 
they knew they would be unable to carry. 

Not much could be done that evening, but an in- 
terview was arranged for the following morning, 
and at this meeting the necessary preliminary steps 
were taken which were to result in the legal appoint- 
ment of William Richards, Esq., of . Chicago, Illinois, 
as guardian to Louis Arnold, who was thus made — 
or at least believed himself to be — the happiest boy 
in the United States. 

This visit also gave Louis the opportunity to 
secure a few little treasures which Aunt Martha had 
preserved for him at the time of the auction — his 
mother’s work-box and its contents, some family 
photographs, a box containing, among other things, 
some choice books that had belonged to his father 
and which she wisely judged he would prize later 
in life; and there were also a few well-chosen gifts 
which she had presented to him from time to time* 

These had all been consigned to the care of a 


STEP BY STEP 


87 

good woman in the village when he was sent to the 
farm, and it was with a light heart that he now 
went to claim them and inform her of the promising 
future awaiting him. 

On their way back to Boston they had another 
wait in the towm where they had changed cars the 
previous day, and Louis asked his guardian’s per- 
mission to run about a little, promising to be on 
hand before it was time for their train to leave. 

This was readily granted, and the boy hurried 
away to the post office, intent upon an errand which 
had occupied his thoughts a good deal of the time 
during his trip the day before. 

“ Well, my son, what can I do for you ? ” the 
genial postmaster inquired in a kindly tone, as Louis 
presented himself at the general delivery window. 

“ I’ve come to ask, sir, if you know a boy in this 
town by the name of Ted, or a girl called Gipsy ? ” 
Louis questioned, but flushing with embarrassment 
as he realized the awkwardness of the situation in 
being compelled to be so indefinite regarding the 
parties he wished to find. 

“ c A boy named Ted and a girl called Gipsy’ ! ” 
repeated the man, a smile of amusement hovering 
about his lips. “ I’m afraid that is a riddle I shall 
be unable to solve unless you give me more of a cue. 
Don’t you know the last name of the young people ? ” 
“Ho, sir; but I’ll tell you why I’m trying to 
find them,” said Louis confidentially, and he pro- 
ceeded to relate the incidents of the day of the 
county fair, when he had made the acquaintance of 


88 


STEP BY STEP 


Ted and Gipsy, and the latter had presented him 
with a bag of candy in which he had afterwards 
found the pretty ring belonging to her, and which 
he was now trying to return to its owner. 

The postmaster gave his closest attention to the 
story, but shook his head doubtfully when it was 
concluded. “ I’m afraid I can’t help you, my boy,” 
he said, but smiled sympathetically into the earnest 
face uplifted to his. “ I don’t know any girl named 
Gipsy. Ted sounds as if it might be short for Theo- 
dore, but I do not think of anyone answering to 
your description. Possibly the family does not live 
here — they may have come to the fair from some 
adjoining town, or they may be merely summer resi- 
dents somewhere in the country. I am sorry, my 
lad, since you are so anxious to restore the ring; 
doubtless Miss Gipsy herself experienced no little 
regret over the unfortunate episode.” 

“ That’s the worst of it, sir — to think she had to 
be made so unhappy when she tried to be so kind 
to me,” Louis regretfully returned. 

“ I guess she must have dipped her own small 
fingers into that bag of sweets before she passed it 
over to you. What’s your opinion ? ” facetiously 
remarked the postmaster. 

“ That’s what I thought, too,” said Louis, flush- 
ing, and with an answering dimple showing in either 
cheek. “ But I thank you, sir, for being so kind,” 
he added, lifting his hat as he backed away from 
the window and left the office. 

“ It’s too confounded bad and makes me darned 


STEP BY STEP 


89 

mad !” he impatiently exclaimed as he stepped out 
upon the street. Then he stopped short, flushing 
consciously and added: “I guess Aunt Martha’d 
have given me a black mark for those words if she’d 
heard me ; but I was sure I’d get Gipsy’s name at 
the oflice.” 

He had been building a very pretty castle in the 
air all the way up from Boston the day before, and 
it was exceedingly disappointing to have it thus 
demolished by a single blow. He had fondly be- 
lieved there would be no difficulty in ascertaining 
the identity of Miss Gipsy, by paying a visit to the 
post office. Then, having learned her name, he 
intended writing her a letter in which he would 
inclose her ring and tell her where he had found 
it and how glad he was to return it. 

Of course she would have to reply, thanking him, 
or perhaps Ted would write for her; thus he hoped 
a correspondence would be established that would 
keep him in touch with them, or result in his meet- 
ing them again sometime. But these cherished 
plans had come to naught, and his sense of disap- 
pointment was so great that he had allowed himself 
to become excessively irritated even to the extent 
of using unbecoming language. 

He paused in his walk and leaned against an 
electric-light post, looking both cross and unhappy. 
“ Look here, Louis Arnold, this isn’t going to do,” 
he said after a moment ; “ you’ve no business to get 
mad over a little thing like that, when you’ve just 
had so much come to you to be thankful for. Let’s 


9 ° 


STEP BY STEP 


see ” — lifting a thoughtful look to a group of fleecy 
clouds that were skimming across the sky above him 
as if seeking light upon a difficult problem — 
“ there’s a Bible rule for everything and there must 
be one that’ll fit this. That ring belongs to Gipsy, 
and it is right for me to get it back to her some way. 
It says ‘ Seek and ye shall find,’ so I’m going to 
try to know that I shall find what it is right for me 
to seek. There! that is the best I know how to do 
and I’m not going to w T orry over it any more.” He 
started on his way again with a bright face and 
alert step, soon rejoining Mr. Kichards at the sta- 
tion, where, ten minutes later, they boarded their 
train for home. After they were comfortably 
seated Louis drew forth from an inside pocket of 
his jacket a small package tied with a narrow, blue 
ribbon. This he carefully removed and also the 
wrapper, revealing half a dozen photographs which 
he began to study earnestly. 

“ What have you there, Louis ? ” inquired Mr. 
Kichards, who had been observing him with con- 
siderable interest. 

“ Some pictures — this is my mother’s,” said the 
boy, with a tender thrill of mingled pride and love 
in his tone; and the gentleman found himself look- 
ing upon the face of one of the most beautiful 
women he had ever seen, while he also saw that 
Louis resembled her to a remarkable degree. 

“ And this is one of my father,” the lad continued, 
as he presented another of a young man who ap- 
peared to have been about thirty years of age at the 


STEP BY STEP 


91 

time it was taken. He had a well-shaped head, a 
refined, intellectual face; but there was a look of 
delicacy in both frame and features that indicated 
a lack of strength and vitality. 

“ Your father and mother both look like cultured 
people, Louis,” Mr. Richards observed, after study- 
ing the faces intently. “ Aha ! ” and he smiled 
broadly as the boy shyly slipped the likeness of an 
infant in long clothes into his hand, “ this little chap 
is wonderfully like you; I am sure he was named 
Louis Arnold.” 

“ Yes, sir ; that was taken when I was six months 
old,” he replied. “ I think this must be my grand- 
mother,” he added, handing him a rather faded pic- 
ture of an elderly woman, “ but I am not quite sure, 
only I think my mother looks a little like her — I 
never saw it before. And this man — I don’t know 
anything about. I found the pictures in a box of old 
letters put away with some books. 

“ Ah, an English captain ! ” observed his com- 
panion as he saw the stalwart form in its trig, Brit- 
ish uniform ; while from the intelligent, resolute face 
and the alert, yet dignified attitude of the figure 
he was impressed that the man must have been a 
strong and self-reliant character. 

Turning the card over he saw written on the back, 
in a clear, somewhat precise hand: 

“ Captain John Sherburne, of Her Majesty’s Fifty- 
seventh.” 

“ He looks a soldier, every inch,” said Mr. Rich- 
ards ; “ perhaps he was your grandfather ? ” 


9 2 


STEP BY STEP 


“ No, sir, for my mother’s name was Annie Jud- 
kins. He may have been her uncle, but I don’t 
know — she never seemed to like to talk about her 
folks, though she would sometimes tell me of things 
that happened in England when she was a little 
girl,” Louis explained. 

“ Then she was English,” remarked his listener. 

“ Yes, sir ; she was born there, but came here 
when she was about ten years old.” 

“ I see you have still another picture,” Mr. Rich- 
ards observed, glancing at an envelope which Louis 
had separated from the others. 

The boy made no reply, but quietly drawing 
forth the card it contained, laid it in his hand, and 
the man found himself looking into the face of a 
woman of perhaps forty years of age. 

It was not a beautiful face, it was not even strik- 
ing; but it was a fine face, strong and earnest, yet 
gentle and lovable. 

A small, symmetrical head was well poised upon 
a slender neck above a pair of graceful shoulders. 
A pair of clear, true, soulful eyes looked out from 
beneath a thoughtful brow; the nose was straight, 
the nostrils delicately chiseled ; the mouth was firm, 
yet tender ; indeed all the features were clear-cut and 
regular and were all aglow with some inward love- 
liness that was far more attractive than mere phys- 
ical beauty. Character, individuality and love for 
humanity were written on every lineament. 

It was a modem photograph, well taken and well 
finished, and as he studied it with increasing in- 


STEP BY STEP 


93 


terest, Mr. 'Richards found himself wishing that 
he might know the woman whom it represented. 
Louis watched him curiously, noting the apprecia- 
tive expression in his fine eyes. “ That is Aunt 
Martha, sir / 7 he at length volunteered in a tone of 
mingled affection and pride, w T hile his glance 
dropped fondly to the face he loved so well. 

“ Indeed! Well, she looks just as I would expect 
the woman you have told us about to look. I am 
sure, my boy, Miss Wellington is one in a thousand, 
and you have a right to love and be proud of such 
a friend / 7 returned his companion as he gave back 
the likeness to the lad, who carefully replaced it in 
its envelope and tucked it away by itself into one 
of his pockets. 

Then, gathering up the others, he made them into 
a neat package, retying the blue ribbon around the 
wrapper as deftly as a girl would have tied it ; after 
which he put it snugly away, as he supposed, into the 
inner pocket of his jacket from which he had 
taken it. 

Half an hour later they alighted at the station 
in their own town, when a ride of ten minutes more 
on a trolley brought them to within a stone’s throw 
of Farmer Weston’s home, where they were cor- 
dially welcomed by the entire family, not excepting 
Ponce, who manifested the most extravagant delight 
over Louis’ return. 

After Mr. Richards and Louis had stepped from 
the train at the end of their journey, a fine-looking, 


STEP BY STEP 


94 

richly-dressed lady boarded the same car and, 
strangely enough, slipped into the very seat they had 
just vacated. Opening a handsome bag which hung 
from her wrist, she found her ticket, but in the act 
of closing the receptacle again the bit of pasteboard 
dropped from her fingers and fell fluttering to the 
floor under the seat in front of her. 

Stooping to recover it, she found lying just at 
her feet a small package, tied with a blue ribbon. 

“ Ah ! some one has lost it,” she murmured, view- 
ing it curiously. “ I wonder if it is anything that is 
valuable! I think I will be justified in examining 
it to ascertain if it will be worth advertising.” 

But the conductor making his appearance just at 
that moment, she dropped it into her bag while she 
asked some question about the arrival of the train 
in town, so for the time the package was forgot- 
ten. 

When she alighted from her car, on reaching 
Boston, she was met by a portly, prosperous-looking 
man, to whom, after saluting him affectionately, 
she remarked: “ John, dear, have you had a good 
day? I hope your business is satisfactorily ar- 
ranged and we can go on to-night. I am longing to 
get home.” 

“ Yes, Madelaine, everything has gone smoothly, 
and I have just secured a section in a Pullman train 
that will leave at nine. Meantime, we’ll run up to 
the Touraine for a good dinner and a little rest,” 
the gentleman replied, at the same time beckoning 
to a cabman who was hovering near them. 


STEP BY STEP 


95 

When they were seated within the vehicle, and 
while the lady was looking for her handkerchief, 
the little package came to light. 

“ Oh, see what I have found ! ” she exclaimed, 
and slipping it into her companion’s hand she ex- 
plained how it had come into her possession. 

“ What is in it \ ” the man inquired, eyeing it 
curiously. 

“ I don’t know ; I haven’t looked.” 

The gentleman pulled the ribbon, removed the 
wrapper and his glance fell upon the photograph of 
an English soldier, resplendent in his captain’s uni- 
form. It possessed no interest for him, however, 
until, almost unconsciously, he reversed the card 
and read, written there: 

“ Capt. John Sherburne of H&r Majesty’s Fifty- 
seventh.” 

Fortunately his wife was at that moment engaged 
in disentangling the lace on her sleeve from the 
fastening of her hag, otherwise she must have ob- 
served the violent start and strange appearance of 
her husband. 

There was not an atom of color in his face, a wild 
look of fear had leaped into his eyes and great 
drops of perspiration gathered thick upon his fore- 
head and about his mouth. 

For a moment everything grew dark about him 
and consciousness seemed about to fail him. Sud- 
denly reaching forth his hand he dashed down the 
window beside him. 

“ How close the carriage is ! ” he muttered, and, 


STEP BY STEP 


96 

leaning out, he drew a full, deep breath, whereupon 
he began to recover himself somewhat. 

“ Yes, and there is a bad odor here, too — stale 
smoke, I think,” returned the lady still busy with 
her lace. “ There ! ” she added as she finally released 
the delicate fabric, “ this ruffling is always catching 
on something. Now, tell me what treasures you have 
discovered in that mysterious little package,” she 
laughingly concluded as she leaned forward to look 
within the wrapper. 

“ Nothing hut a few photographs,” her companion 
managed to say in an indifferent tone, while he 
dexterously separated the picture of the soldier from 
the others and passed them to her. 

“Not a very valuable possession, yet no doubt 
whoever lost them prized them highly,” observed 
his wife as she looked them over, adding with a 
wistful note in her voice : “ What a dear, pretty 
baby ! such lovely eyes ! just like his mother’s. 
Hadn’t we better advertise them, John?” 

The man’s heart leaped into his throat at the 
suggestion. 

“ Well, perhaps,” he said after a moment of 
hesitancy. “ I’ll see about the matter later,” and 
gently taking them from her he replaced the wrap- 
per and ribbon, then shoved them into the depths 
of an inner pocket, drawing a long breath of relief 
as he did so. 

“They wouldn’t let you have Josie?’ ? he re- 
marked inquiringly a moment later. 

“ No, Harriet thought it would make a bad break 


STEP BY STEP 


97 

in her school, but she said she might spend the next 
vacation with us, if we care to have her,” returned 
his wife. 

“ If we care to have her,” repeated her husband 
with a suggestive laugh. “ Why, I ? d give half my 
fortune if Josephine Ashton was our own daughter.” 

The lady sighed softly. 

“ How fond of Josie you are!” she said, then 
added regretfully : “ But I am afraid she is getting 
a little spoiled by wealth and overindulgence; she 
showed signs of selfishness and snobbishness during 
our visit” 

“ Oh, that will all wear off. She has the real stuff 
in her and will make a mighty fine woman by and 
by,” confidently asserted the man in defense of his 
favorite, and the next moment the cab came to a 
stop. 

A moment or two later he was standing in the 
office of the Touraine, making an entry in the 
register. 

This was what he wrote : 

“ John Sherburne and wife, Chicago, Illinois.*’ 

And John Sherburne was the man who, on the 
day of the county fair in Hew Hampshire a few 
weeks previous, had been so startled upon beholding 
Louis Arnold, as that gentleman was driving by the 
judges’ stand; and who, later, had sought him out 
again and, armed with a tempting bag of peanuts 
to attract his attention, had questioned him regard- 
ing his parentage. His wife was the lady who had 
been his companion in the carriage at that time. 


9 8 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER VIII 

On his return from New Hampshire Louis felt 
very light-hearted as he reentered the hospitable 
farmhouse, where he was so cordially welcomed. It 
was to be his home. There was now a place in the 
world which he could feel was his own, because what 
service he could give would he regarded to some ex- 
tent at least as an equivalent for what he received; 
and he would no longer be subjected to abuse and 
degrading slurs on account of his poverty and de- 
pendence. 

“ So, Louis, you have come hack to be our hoy ? ” 
Mr. Weston remarked as he laid his hand kindly on 
the lad’s shoulder and smiled into his animated face 
and happy eyes. 

“ Yes, sir.” 

“ I hope you don’t feel homesick, now that the die 
is cast,” and a twinkle gleamed in the man’s own 
eyes, as he contrasted the youth’s present appearance 
with his dejection of the previous morning. 

“ No, sir,” emphatically, and Louis’ eyes wan- 
dered appreciatively around the cosey sitting-room, 
all rose-hued from the crimson shaded lamp on the 
table and the cheerful blaze upon the hearth, and 
finally rested contentedly upon Mrs. Weston’s moth- 


STEP BY STEP 


99 

erly face. “ No, sir/’ he repeated ; “ I’ve never 
been in so nice a place since my father and mother 
went away.” 

“ And I hope you both have brought back a good 
appetite,” Mrs. Weston here interposed, for her 
quick ear had caught the slight faltering of the 
boy’s tone as he referred to his parents. “ Supper 
is all ready and we were only waiting for you to 
come. And, Louis,” leading the way into the din- 
ing-room and laying her hand upon a chair at her 
left, “ you are to eat with us and sit here, now that 
you belong to us.” 

And Louis felt almost too happy to contain him- 
self upon being thus promoted to a place with the 
family. He had hitherto eaten with Hannah in 
the kitchen, and, although he had been grateful for 
that privilege, and had had plenty to appease his 
hunger, it had not been particularly homelike, after 
Aunt Martha’s daintily appointed table, though far 
better than the one at the farm. 

After supper they all gathered around the fire in 
the sitting-room and passed a social hour together, 
discussing the various incidents connected with the 
recent trip, and much gratification was expressed 
because everything had been so expeditiously and 
satisfactorily arranged. 

When Louis was about to retire for the night Mrs. 
Weston remarked: 

“ Louis, hereafter you are to have the little room 
at the head of the backstairs; you know the one I 
mean. Pleasant dreams to you, dear. I am very 

LOFft 


100 STEP BY STEP 

glad your home is to be with us,” she concluded in 
a motherly tone* 

Louis lifted an indescribable look to her; then, 
with a low-voiced “ good night ” to them all, quickly 
left the room. 

Mrs. Weston had called him “ dear,” just as if 
he really belonged to them, and the softly spoken 
word of affection caused such a lump to come into 
his throat that he was obliged to get out of sight as 
soon as possible — “ before he made a girl of him- 
self and cried,” he confidentially whispered in the 
ear of Ponce, whose feathery tail thumped a wel- 
come upon the floor as he came into the kitchen, 
where, stooping down, Louis gave the collie a vig- 
orous hug to relieve the tension of the moment. 

His face glowed with delight when, upon mount- 
ing the back stairs, he entered his new room. 

“ By Jingo 1 this is just— bully ! ” he exclaimed 
with boyish enthusiasm as his sweeping glance took 
in its furnishings — the pretty white bed with its 
spotless spread; the strip of bright carpeting laid 
over the matting before it ; the dainty muslin draper- 
ies at the windows, and other attractive though 
simple accessories. There was a new comb and 
brush and toothbrush on one end of his bureau; a 
tiny clock on the opposite side; and a pretty pin- 
cushion in the center. 

A small table covered with an immaculate towel 
stood between the windows, and Upon it rested a 
well-worn Testament, with some other books. In 
one corner there was a commode furnished with a 


STEP BY STEP 


101 


pitcher, bowl and towels; and on the wall opposite 
there hung a couple of shelves on which a few more 
books were neatly arranged. 

“ Oh, I just wish Aunt Martha could see it!” 
he breathed, with a long-drawn sigh of content. 
“ She’d he awfully glad ; but I’ll write her all about 
it,” he concluded as he put his light upon the table 
and took up his Testament for his evening reading. 

During his absence Jerry McLeod, the hired man, 
had returned to the farm and Louis was formally 
introduced to him the next morning when he went 
below at the usual hour to assist with the chores. 
The man was Scotch by birth and had come to this 
country when a lad of ten. He had entered Mr. 
Weston’s employ at the age of seventeen and had 
served him faithfully for fifteen years ; conse- 
quently he regarded himself as a permanent fixture 
on the place, if indeed he did not consider that he 
was the monarch of all he surveyed. 

He had appeared somewhat crestfallen when in- 
formed that henceforth there was to be a boy on 
the farm; for, naturally, he was inclined to be jeal- 
ous of his position and did not relish the idea of 
having another step into the traces there to, per- 
haps, eventually crowd him out. 

He looked askance at Louis when Hannah intro- 
duced them and mumbled a rather gruff “ mornin’ ;” 
then experienced another twinge of jealousy when 
Ponce, leaping forward with a joyous bark, arose on 
his hind legs and placing his paws on the boy’s 
shoulders licked his cheek in affeetiouate greetmg. 


102 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Humph ! don’t need a boy here any more’n the 
buggy needs five wheels,” Jerry grimly informed 
Hannah, as Louis, followed by the collie, left the 
kitchen. 

“ Mebbe not ; but the boy needed a home,” sen- 
tentiously rejoined the maid, “ and,” she added, a 
mischievous sparkle in her keen, black eyes, “ he’s 
the very nicest boy I ever did see.” 

How, as Hannah had been at the farm even longer 
than Jerry, this was rather a sharply barbed arrow 
from her quiver and did not tend to soothe the man’s 
ruffled feelings, even though he was accustomed to 
her chaffing and, under certain circumstances, rather 
enjoyed it. 

“ You don’t say, Mis’ Belknap,” he retorted with 
bland sarcasm. “ Much obleeged to you, I’m sure,” 
and he made a would-be-dignified exit through the 
back door, which, however, he did not close very 
softly after him. 

Louis resumed his duties in a very happy frame 
of mind and was made even more light of heart 
when Mr. Weston informed him that he was 
to begin school the following Monday. As an offset 
to this, however, he also learned that Mr. Richards 
and his wife would leave for the West on the same 
day. 

Saturday these kind friends took him to Boston 
to provide him with a suitable outfit for winter. 
It was a wonderful experience for him as he went 
about the busy streets of the city, visiting the various 
stores to make his purchases. He had never had 


STEP BY STEP 


103 


such nice, stylish clothing before, and said to him- 
self, as he noted the generous sums of money paid 
out for it, that Mr. Richards must be an “ awful 
rich man.” He wondered, too, how he could ever 
do enough to make up for the many favors he was 
receiving. 

Monday morning his guardian accompanied him 
to school and introduced him to the principal, who, 
after an examination, assigned him to the eighth 
grade; hut told him, as he was so late in entering, 
he would have to work diligently in order to make 
up arrears and keep with his class. 

That same evening Mr. and Mrs. Richards left for 
Chicago, and life at the farm fell into its usual 
routine. 

Louis proved himself a good worker both at home 
and in school. He was not a brilliant scholar, but, 
being a conscientious student, his lessons were well 
prepared, and recited in a way to show that he com- 
prehended what he had learned. 

He was well received by his schoolmates and 
proved himself a “ jolly good fellow,” entering into 
all their sports with a hearty abandon which testified 
to his thorough enjoyment of them. 

Since his future had been definitely settled, he 
had lost the strained, anxious expression which had 
made his young face look careworn and older than 
his years; and in the rebound of his spirits he be- 
came happy and light-hearted — “ like an invigor- 
ating breeze in the house,” said Farmer Weston and 
his wife, both of whom were becoming strongly at- 
tached to him. 


104 


STEP BY STEP 


But during his third week of school he observed a 
change in the atmosphere about him. The boys 
gathered in groups eyeing him askance, talking mys- 
teriously among themselves the while. He was not 
asked to join their games as heretofore, and if he 
manifested an inclination to participate in them, 
there would be a general stampede to some other 
portion of the grounds. 

This uncomfortable state of affairs was suddenly 
brought to a crisis one morning, when, on entering 
the playground, Louis observed quite a commotion 
among the boys. 

The bully of the school, Ben Pratt by name, was 
tyrannizing over two or three small children, compel- 
ling them, by threats and rough usage, to do all man- 
ner of ridiculous tricks for the entertainment of 
the older ones. 

Louis, who could never see even an animal abused 
without tingling to his finger tips with indignation, 
now felt his eyes beginning to blaze and his blood 
to boil as a sharp slap resounded on the air and was 
followed by a howl of pain from one of the young- 
sters. The next moment he dashed forward and 
slipped in between the bully and his helpless victim. 

“ What are you doing, Ben Pratt, cuffing a little 
shaver like that ? ” he cried, with crimson cheeks, 
adding: “ Run away, Harry Barnes; if Ben wants 
to slap anybody again he can take me.” 

The little fellow needed no second bidding, and 
nimbly made tracks for a place of safety, the others 
following him with all possible dispatch. 


STEP BY STEP 


105 


“ Well, I’ll be blamed ! ” cried Ben Pratt, gazing 
in unfeigned astonishment at the self-constituted 
committee of protection against cruelty to children. 

Then his anger at being balked of his fun blazed 
forth fiercely. 

( ■ What d’you mean, meddling with what’s none 
of your business ? ” he yelled. “ I’ll break your 
head!” 

He drew off and made a great show of putting 
himself in a fighting attitude. 

“ I shall always meddle when I see a great fellow 
like you picking on a boy who can’t make any 
show against you,” returned Louis, facing his op- 
ponent unflinchingly, his great, brown eyes flashing 
scorn and a determination to stand up to the finish. 

But Ben Pratt was only a blustering coward. 
For a moment he gazed back into those resolute eyes, 
reading in their clear depths a courage and strength 
of purpose against which he knew he was no match. 
The next, his spirit of bravado failed him utterly. 
He fell back a pace or two and his uplifted arms 
dropped to his sides. Then he gave vent to a 
sneering laugh and mockingly cried out: 

“Bah! who wants to fight a Hew Hampshire 
almshouse beggar ? ” and turning quickly on his heel 
he walked away to a group of boys, who, now the 
ice was broken and the secret out, set up a jeering 
howl at the youthful champion’s expense. 

Ho physical blow could have produced the tor- 
ture which this hate-poisoned arrow inflicted. 

Louis’ brilliant color faded out, leaving him 


io6 


STEP BY STEP 


startlingly pale; a look of pain leaped into his eyes 
and a shiver of repulsion swept over him from head 
to foot. 

Instantly he understood why he had of late been 
ostracized by his companions: they had, by some 
means, learned his history previous to his coming to 
Farmer Weston, and were holding him — some 
thoughtlessly, others maliciously — disgraced on ac- 
count of it. 

For a moment he was dazed by the unexpected 
attack. His sorely wounded heart began to swell 
and throb until it seemed as if it must burst with 
grief and shame, and in all probability he would 
have broken down utterly but for the appearance of 
his teacher, who greeted him with a bright “ Good 
morning, Louis,” which partially broke the spell and 
enabled him to pull himself together somewhat. 

Almost mechanically he doffed his hat to her, as 
he returned her salutation; then turned and walked 
beside her to the schoolroom, where, slipping quietly 
into his seat, he tried to face the situation with what 
courage he might. 

But he was wretched; it almost seemed as if he 
could not remain through the session; as if he must 
get away somewhere by himself to fight it out alone. 
His temples were beating like tiny hammers which 
seemed to emit sparks with every blow; it was with 
difficulty he could keep his teeth from chattering 
audibly, and his chin quivered with irrepressible 
nervousness. He hardly knew when the school was 
called to order; the opening song fell almost un- 


STEP BY STEP 


107 

heeded on his ears nor did he even join in the Lord’s 
Prayer until the words, “ Forgive us our debts as 
we forgive our debtors,” attracted his attention. 

This awakened a new train of thought. “ Aunt 
Martha says that means ‘ love your enemies, do good 
to them that persecute you/ ” he said to himself 
with a sudden revulsion of feeling and a rush of 
hot tears over his eyeballs. “ Can I ever ‘ love ’ Ben 
Pratt after that f Can I ever even be good to him? ” 
he mentally questioned with conflicting emotions. 

He was not quite sure just then that he ever could, 
but the better train of thought once started calmed 
him somewhat, and by the time the opening exercises 
were over he was able to begin his morning’s work 
with some degree of composure. 

For several days life, was made very uncomfort- 
able for him, however, many of the boys, Ben Pratt 
at their head, neglecting no opportunity to taunt 
him with his unfortunate past. 

This seemed hard enough to bear, but an even 
more trying test of his courage and principles 
awaited him, before the conflict with self was to be 
won, and a malicious foe finally vanquished. 


jo8 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER IX 

Farmer Weston was the proud possessor of a 
beautiful and very valuable colt, which he had 
raised, and which bade fair to become famous in the 
near future. His pedigree was beyond criticism, 
combining the renown and beauty of Hambletonian 
and Star; and to prove this illustrious ancestry, the 
admirable points he scored were more than usually 
fell to the lot of the most carefully bred horseflesh. 
He was jet black — not a white hair to be found any- 
where on his sleek satiny coat. There was not a 
blemish to be detected in his anatomy. His clear- 
cut head was almost ideal; his alert, sensitive ears 
marvels of symmetry, and his beautiful great eyes, 
set wide apart, were full of fire and intelligence. 

Perfect in shape, clean of limb, with a sweeping 
tail that was the pride of Jerry McLeod’s heart, 
Blackbird — so named by Mrs. Richards during one 
of her visits home — made a picture to set any true 
discriminating horseman’s heart aflame. He was 
kept out at pasture when the weather was deemed 
suitable, and from time to time subjected to 
careful training by either Mr. Weston or Jerry. He 
had never yet been regularly harnessed, nor had any- 
one ever ventured to mount him. 

Louis thought he was the finest thing he had ever 


STEP BY STEP 


109 

seen, and he never allowed a day to elapse without 
paying a visit to the pasture to feast his eyes upon 
his beauty and try to make friends with him. 

At first he only ventured to sit on the bars and 
gaze in wonder and delight, while his frisky coltship, 
as if conscious of the admiration he was eliciting, 
cavorted and gamboled in the most graceful and 
sportive manner, until, becoming accustomed to the 
presence of the boy, he gradually ventured nearer 
and nearer the lad, and at last daintily condescended 
to accept the luscious apple which upon several occa- 
sions had been invitingly held out to him. 

This was a notable achievement and went on for 
a week or more, the horse by degrees becoming so 
friendly he would submit to gentle petting, even 
appearing to enjoy it and the confidential eulogies 
which Louis showered upon him. He finally lost all 
fear of the boy, coming readily at his call, allowing 
himself to be led about by the mane and manifesting 
no little affection for his new friend; greeting him 
joyfully when he appeared in sight and whinnying 
wistfully when he went away, until one day — he 
never forgot the proud exhilaration of that moment, 
albeit something of fear was intermingled— Louis 
achieved a mount ! 

This, however, was an unlooked for occurrence — a 
new experience for Blackbird. He stood motionless 
for a moment, his graceful head uplifted, his nostrils 
dilated with mingled astonishment and indignation, 
in view of such an unwarrantable liberty; the next 
he bounded off like the wind, kicking up his heels 


no 


STEP BY STEP 


and executing other marvelous and rather frightful 
gymnastics in his efforts to rid himself of his un- 
accustomed burden. 

Then there was a struggle to see who would come 
out ahead. But Louis, with his strong, lithe arms 
wound close around the slender neck, his knees 
pressing firmly against his glossy sides, clung for 
dear life and — conquered; while all the time he 
talked to his startled steed in a caressing, reassuring 
voice as they flew around and around the field to- 
gether. 

Gradually, however, Blackbird began to tone down 
a little. It was a very pleasant, loving, familiar 
voice that was sounding in his ears, and as he lis- 
tened, his fear began to abate; his breakneck pace 
slackened to a brisk trot, then to a gentle amble, and 
finally, guided by the friend in whom he began to 
feel returning confidence, he walked decorously up 
to the bars and obediently stopped at the word of 
command. 

Louis then slipped nimbly to the ground, and 
drawing a tempting apple from his pocket presented 
it to his conquered charger, who munched it enjov- 
ably and immediately began to nose around for 
another. 

“ Not to-day, you stunning black beauty ! ” said 
the boy, his face radiant in view of the signal victory 
he had won. “ Next time, though, you shall have 
an extra one.” 

“ c 'Next time ? had better be postponed indefi- 
nitely, young man,” remarked a quiet but rather stem 


STEP BY STEP 


in 


voice just behind him, and, turning with a start, 
Louis found himself face to face with Mr. Weston. 

The man had been an almost breathless eye-wit- 
ness of the daring feat of horsemanship just de- 
scribed, for he had momentarily expected to see the 
youthful rider dashed to the ground, and maimed 
or killed, or the colt ruined by a false step or a 
rolling stone. 

He had hurried at once to the pasture; but as he 
drew near he realized that he might bring about 
the very catastrophe he dreaded if he appeared too 
suddenly on the scene or called out sharply to startle 
the boy who, he saw, was beginning to gain the mas- 
tery of the horse; so stepping out of sight behind a 
tree, he waited with what patience he could com- 
mand for the circus to come to a finish. 

But he heaved a huge sigh of relief when the daring 
young jockey stood once more on terra firma and 
both boy and horse were unharmed. 

Louis colored guiltily as he met the grave eyes 
of his friend, for not until that moment did it occur 
to him that he had been taking an unwarrantable 
liberty. He had long wished that he might help 
break the colt, and, absorbed in his plans for this 
result, he had never once thought that he was tam- 
pering with another person’s property in a very 
unjustifiable manner. 

“ Well, you reckless youngster, I’m glad to find 
you with a whole skin and no bones broken. You 
won’t have very long, if you continue to make a 
John Gilpin of yourself,” Mr. Weston observed in 


STEP BY STEP 


1 12 

a tone of would-be reproof; yet Louis’ quick ear 
detected an underlying note of repressed admiration 
for the daring feat he had performed, and it told 
him that whatever might be said, for or against, 
what he had done, the man knew that Blackbird had 
had a lesson he would never forget; that an im- 
portant step in his training had been achieved that 
day. 

“ I wasn’t afraid, sir — after I got on,” Louis re- 
plied, his eyes glistening again as he recalled the 
exhilaration of his recent experience. 

“ Well, I was ” said the farmer emphatically, 
“ and now, my boy ” — speaking very decidedly — 
“ this mustn’t occur again. Blackbird is a very 
valuable piece of horseflesh, and such capers as you 
two have been cutting up to-day are dangerous for 
you both. If you don’t get your own neck broken 
you are liable to ruin him, and I want you to give 
me your word that you’ll never mount him again 
without my permission.” 

“ I won’t, sir ; I promise,” Louis promptly re- 
plied, then added apologetically : “ I didn’t mean 
to do anything wrong — I thought perhaps I could 
help to ‘ break ’ him.” 

“ Well, maybe you can help ; the little scamp 
seems to like you pretty well,” said Farmer Weston, 
while his glance proudly followed the beautiful crea- 
ture as he trotted gracefully about the pasture ; a but 
I prefer to have the breaking process conducted 
under my own eye. I hope you understand, Louis.” 

“ Yes, sir ; truly, I never will mount him again 


STEP BY STEP 


u 3 

unless you say I may; but can I bring him his 
apple every day ? ” 

“ I have no objection to that or to your being as 
friendly as you like with him on terra firma ” the 
man replied as they turned their steps toward the 
house. 

The next morning Mr. Weston was obliged to 
leave home for a few days on business of importance. 

He returned on Saturday evening, when alas! he 
was greeted with the startling intelligence that a 
serious accident had happened to Blackbird during 
his absence, and he was badly lamed. 

“ How did it happen ? ” he demanded sternly of 
Jerry, who broke the news to him. 

“ I can’t say, sir, just how it happened,” said the 
man in a reserved tone. “ When I went to bring 
him up from the pasture last night, I found him 
hobbling about on three legs. Walker, the vet., 
thinks he’s slipped his stifle.” 

Mr. Weston suppressed a groan of despair. 

“ And you haven’t any idea how it was done ? ” 
he said. 

“ Well, sir, if you want an opinion,” Jerry re- 
turned after a moment of thought, “ I believe that 
boy’s been ridin’ him again, and he slipped on a 
rolling stone.” 

u I don’t like to think the boy did it,” his master 
replied ; “ for he promised me he would not mount 
him again.” 

“ It’s one thing to make a promise, sir, and an- 
other to keep it,” the man remarked somewhat 


n 4 STEP BY STEP 

shortly, and with the air of one who could tell more 
if he chose. 

Mr. Weston took the lantern from the shelf near 
him and repaired to the box stall where Blackbird 
was kept, to see for himself how seriously the horse 
was injured. When he reappeared he looked very 
grave and dejected. 

“ Well, only time will tell,” he observed in 
a spiritless tone as he fastened the door after 
him. 

Turning to replace the lantern on the shelf, he 
found Louis, attended by Ponce, standing beside him. 
The boy looked almost ill, and his eyes were red and 
swollen from crying. 

“ Mr. Weston,” he began tremulously, “ I heard 
what you and Jerry said — I was up on the hay with 
Ponce — but I didn’t lame the colt. I haven’t been 
inside the bars to the pasture since you told me I 
mustn’t ride him again ; I’ve been to them and given 
him his apple and talked to and petted him every day 
and that is all.” 

The farmer stood regarding him in thoughtful 
silence for a moment, while the boy met his gaze 
fearlessly and without the slightest manifestation of 
guilt. 

“We won’t talk about it to-night, Louis,” he at 
length observed ; “ w r e’ll think it over a while before 
we discuss it.” And with this he abruptly left the 
barn, going directly into the house. 

“ Oh, I’m afraid he thinks I did it ! ” cried Louis 
disconsolately, as he threw himself upon a box in 


STEP BY STEP 


ii5 

which some tools were kept, and dropped his head 
upon his hands. 

“ Well — ye did , didn’t ye ? Accordin’ to my way 
o’ thinkin’ it’s pretty poor policy to try to lie out 
o’ a scrape,” gruffly remarked Jerry. 

Louis sprang to his feet, stung to the quick, his 
great eyes blazing with mingled pain and indigna- 
tion. “ I’m not lying, Jerry McLeod,” he cried 
passionately ; “ and you’ve no right to say that. If 
I had hurt Blackbird I would have told Mr. Weston 
I did it — I wouldn’t have lied about it, even if I 
knew he would send me away from here to-morrow 
for doing what he’d told me not to do.” 

“ Talk is cheap,” retorted Jerry with a suggestive 
shrug of his broad shoulders. “ Suppose I should 
tell ye I seen ye ridin’ him ? ” 

“ Then youd be lying,” cried Louis, almost beside 
himself with grief and anger. “ You may say it till 
— till you’re black in the face ” — quoting an ex- 
pression he had heard Nathan Black use — “ it will 
not make it so. I tell you I didnt and you’re a liar 
if you say I did.” 

“ Well, sir,” and Jerry’s tone was blandly exas- 
perating, “ I happened to be in the carriage house 
last night just about dusk. Ye know the east win- 
dow looks out on the pasture — and I seen ye ridin’ 
Blackbird like Jehu ” 

“ I say you lie ! ” passionately interrupted Louis, 
losing all control of himself. “ If you saw anybody 
riding Blackbird it was some other boy.” 

“ Well, maybe ye can stick it out ; but what I 


n6 


STEP BY STEP 


saw I saw,” obstinately affirmed the man. “ I 
didn’t tell Mr. Weston on ye, for I thought I’d let 
ye do yer own confessin’. I started out to get the 
colt and put a stop to yer fun, but Mis’ Weston 
called me just then, and I had to do something for 
her; so when I did go for the colt I didn’t see any 
boy, but I found Blackbird hobblin’ around on three 
legs. Ye weren’t anywhere around ” 

“ No ; Ponce and I went chestnutting after school 
and didn’t get home till supper time,” Louis inter- 
posed. 

“ Ye’re a tough one,” said Jerry with a short 
laugh ; “ but ’twill be better for ye in the end if ye’d 
make a clean breast of it.” 

“ I tell you I haven’t anything to make a clean 
breast about! — Oh! Ponce,” laying his hand on the 
dog’s head, “ if you could only speak, you could tell.” 

The boy’s voice broke sharply. He could bear no 
more and, rushing from the barn, fled to his own 
room, where he threw himself prone upon the bed, 
sobbing as if his heart would burst. 

It was terrible to think of Blackbird being 
maimed, perhaps for life; but to be accused of hav- 
ing done the deed himself by a deliberate act of 
disobedience, and made out a liar into the bargain, 
plunged him into the depths of despair. 

It was with a heavy heart Louis went down to 
breakfast the next day. Mr. Weston bade him a 
grave “ Good morning,” but Mrs. Weston smiled 
cordially and greeted him in her usually cheery 
manner. 


STEP BY STEP 


117 

No reference was made to Blackbird; yet this 
studied avoidance of the one subject so fraught with 
deep interest to them all engendered a feeling of 
awkwardness and constraint; and as soon as the 
meal was over the farmer went directly to the barn, 
Mrs. Weston busied herself with her household cares 
and Louis attended to his usual duties. 

When the boy was through with his work he went 
into the sitting-room and, taking up a book, made a 
pretense of reading, for he did not know what to do 
with himself. Here Mrs. Weston found him later 
with volume upside down and a look of misery on 
his young face that went to her heart. 

“ You do not seem to be very happy this morning, 
Louis,” she remarked in a kindly tone. 

“ How can I be ? ” he returned with a pathetic 
quiver of his chin. But he shut his teeth together 
with a resolute snap, for, boy-like, he felt it beneath 
his dignity to cry in the presence of anyone else, 
whatever he might do in the privacy of his own 
chamber. 

“ You are grieving because of the accident to 
Blackbird,” said Mrs. Weston, a note of sympathy 
in her tones. 

“ Yes, and because they think I did it.” 

“ Does it really harm you if some one else believes 
what is false about you ? A million people might be- 
lieve it, yet, in reality, you would still be perfectly 
honest and true,” returned the woman comfortably. 

“ But you don’t like to have others think or tell 
lies about you,” said Louis, flushing hotly. 


n8 


STEP BY STEP 


“No; that hurts our pride and we begin to pity 
ourselves because of it — which is only one kind of 
selfishness, you know — when we should brace up, 
keep fast hold of our self-respect, do the best we can 
and then, as Mrs. Richards told you, let God take 
care of the result.” 

At this Louis drew in a long, deep breath, which 
acted something like an escape-valve, for the terrible 
pressure on his heart was somewhat relieved for the 
moment. 

“ Don’t you believe I did it ? ” he questioned 
eagerly. 

Mrs. Weston smoothed back the dark hair from his 
moist forehead while she searched for a moment the 
wistful eyes fastened upon hers. 

“ !No, Louis, I do not think you are to blame 
for the injury to Blackbird,” she quietly returned. 

A flush of joy swept over his face at this assur- 
ance; then he grew pale again. 

“ But Jerry says he saw me riding the colt,” he 
said. 

“Jerry told you that?” queried his friend in 
surprise. 

“ Yes’m.” And Louis repeated the conversation 
that had passed between them in the barn the night 
before. 

Mrs. Weston listened attentively, watching him 
closely as he talked, and was convinced in spite of 
all that he was innocent of the wrong laid to his 
charge. 

“Well, dear, it does seem quite a tangle,” she 


STEP BY STEP 


119 

observed when he concluded ; “ but we will try to be 
patient and believe it will all come out right,” and 
Louis was inexpressibly comforted by this little con- 
fidential talk and her acknowledged faith in him. 

Later they went to church together — Mr. Weston 
feeling justified in remaining at home that morning 
— and the boy seemed even more cheerful on his 
return. 

After dinner he went out for a walk and almost 
unconsciously wandered down to the pasture; but 
alas! there was.no Blackbird there to come whinny- 
ing joyfully at his call, and he was depressed and 
wretched again. 

He leaned dejectedly against the bars and won- 
dered disconsolately why things had to go at such 
cross purposes in the world. Why couldn’t life run 
smoothly and everybody be happy? — a problem that 
has puzzled wiser head than his for ages. 

“ I’m going to write Aunt Martha all about it and 
ask her to pray for Blackbird,” he said, after a 
thoughtful silence. “ I don’t see why we shouldn’t 
pray for a horse just the same as for a person when 
he is sick — such a beautiful, valuable horse, too; 
it seems as if I never can bear not to have him get 
well.” 

He sighed heavily and then went on : 

“ I wish I didn’t have to worry so — I wish I could 
let Him take care of it. I am going to try ” — reso- 
lutely. “ If He is omnipotent, then I haven’t got any- 
thing to do with it.” 

The cloud lifted somewhat from his brow with 


120 


STEP BY STEP 


this philosophical reasoning; then presently there 
came another troublesome thought in connection 
with Jerry. 

He knew that the man had never liked him very 
well, for some reason, although he had tried hard 
to please him. Jerry had been short and surly with 
him from the first, but had never manifested quite 
so much ill-will as last evening. Louis’ feeling 
against him had been very bitter since their talk, 
but now he began to be conscience-smitten because 
he had said such sharp things to him in return. He 
had forgotten, in his excitement, that it is the soft 
answer that turneth away wrath. 

(i I’ve got to make that right,” he said, after 
thinking it over. “ It makes no difference what lie 
thinks or says, I’d no business to talk that way to 
him. I guess I’ll go and have it out with him now.” 

He was on the point of putting his resolution in 
force when something on the top rail of the bars 
attracted his attention. 

u What’s that ? ” he said bending for a closer look. 

“ That ” was a small piece of woolen cloth that 
had caught under a splinter and had evidently been 
torn from some garment worn by a person who had 
been on the fence. Louis carefully detached it, 
smoothed it out and critically examined it, his eyes 
growing big, his heart beating rapidly from the 
thoughts that went flashing with lightning speed 
through his brain. 

“ I’m just going to keep this,” he asserted under 
his breath ; “ and some day perhaps I shall find the 


STEP BY STEP 


121 


fellow who wears a suit like it. I’ll bet it belongs 
to the boy who rode Blackbird.” 

He plunged his hand into a pocket and brought 
forth his pocketbook — Mr. Kichards’ gift to him 
on going away — and having with great care placed 
the fragment in the middle compartment, which 
had a clasp, he turned his steps homeward, feeling 
not quite so hopeless as when he had started forth 
upon his walk. 


122 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER X 

Louis went straight to the barn as soon as he 
reached home. Jerry was in the harness-room, care- 
fully putting away the best harness, which was only 
used for church-going and other special occasions, 
giving it a rub here and there to remove all dust 
and possible finger-marks from leather and mount- 
ings. 

He gave the boy a curious look as he entered, then 
again became absorbed in his work while he vigor- 
ously whistled the refrain to an old Scotch hymn 
by way of accompaniment. 

“ Can’t I help, Jerry? ” Louis inquired, to break 
the ice and get down to business. 

“ I’ve done it alone f ’r fifteen years ; guess I c’n 
keep on a while longer,” was the ungracious re- 
sponse, while the whistling was resumed with in- 
cisive shrillness. 

Louis felt exceedingly uncomfortable; stuck his 
hands in his pockets ; stood first on one foot then the 
other and grew hot and cold by turns. He had set 
himself a disagreeable task and did not quite know 
how to begin. 

“ I say, J errv,” he finally blurted out with a very 
red face, “ I said some mean things to you last night, 
and I don’t feel very good after thinking them over.” 


STEP BY STEP 


123 


He paused to give his companion an opportunity 
to make some reply, but the man, although he ceased 
whistling, preserved an obstinate silence and a face 
as expressionless as a mask. 

“ I ? d no business to call you a liar,” Louis re- 
sumed ; “ but I was awful mad and didn’t care what 
I said. I’m not mad now, though; I’m only sorry, 
and I — I’d like to make up.” 

“ 1 Make up ! ’ ” repeated the man, giving him a 
withering look. “ D’ye think I’m goin’ to take sides 
with ye on this colt business and keep still about 
what I saw ye up to ? ” 

“ Oh, no ; I expect you will tell Mr. Weston what 
you told me last night,” Louis replied, but shrinking 
under the man’s scorn. “ That is not what I mean 
at all — I’m just sorry that I was rude to you and I 
want to be friends.” 

“ Humph ! ” slightingly grunted the Scotchman. 

“You haven’t seemed to like me very well since I 
came here, Jerry, though I don’t know why,” the 
boy went on. “ Perhaps I don’t do things as you 
like to have them done, but if you’ll tell me how I 
can do better, I’ll try.” 

k Jerry now began to feel decidedly uncomfortable, 
but to conceal the fact he polished on with redoubled 
vigor. Possessing his full share of the proverbial 
Scotch obstinacy, it would have been a severe wrench 
to his pride to have “ made friends ” on such short 
notice, even if he had not been so sore over Black- 
bird’s mishap and firmly believed that Louis had been 
the cause of it. Yet he was not a bad man at heart, 


124 


STEP BY STEP 


and underneath his apparently adamantine exterior 
he was really touched by the boy’s pathetic appeal, al- 
though under existing circumstances his rigid ideas 
of justice forbade his manifesting it in the slightest 
degree. 

“ Guess we’ll wait till ye’re ready to do the square 
thing by Mr. Weston,” he doggedly responded, as he 
turned to hang up the resplendent collar upon which 
he had expended such unusual attention ; whereupon 
Louis, feeling decidedly de trop and that his efforts 
as peacemaker had been anything but “ blessed,” 
slipped dejectedly out of the room and went hack 
to the house. 

As he entered the sitting-room Mr. Weston laid 
down the book he had been reading and gravely, yet 
not unkindly, observed: 

“ Louis, I would like you to tell me just what you 
know about Blackbird’s accident.” 

“ I don’t know anything about how he was hurt,” 
the hoy returned. “ I wasn’t here when Jerry 
brought him up, for Ponce and I went chestnutting 
after school, Friday, and didn’t get home till most 
supper time. Hannah told me about the colt when 
I came in.” 

“And did you not go to the pasture at all, 
Friday?” inquired the farmer. 

“ Oh, yes, sir ; I was there after dinner — I took 
him his apple when I went back to school. He was 
all right then.” 

“ And you haven’t been on his back ” 

“ Ho, sir, not since you told me I must not mount 


STEP BY STEP 


125 

him,” Louis interrupted, his voice tremulous with 
his eagerness to establish his honesty. 

Mr. Weston sat silent for a few moments. Then 
he said very seriously: 

“ If that horse doesn’t get well he will be a great 
loss to me ; but I think' that would not hurt me nearly 
so much as to lose faith in somebody I thought a 
good deal of ” 

“ I know you mean me, sir,” Louis again inter- 
posed, and wondering how much longer he could en- 
dure this trying ordeal ; “ and I know Jerry thinks 
I’m to blame. He says he saw me riding Blackbird, 
though he wouldn’t tell you because he thought I 
ought to confess it. But it wasn’t me he saw; I 
can’t prove it, for Ponce is the only one in the world 
besides me who knows it, and he can’t talk,” he con- 
cluded despairingly. 

Mr. Weston was impressed, yet did not feel quite 
convinced that the boy was speaking the exact truth. 

“ Well,” he remarked, after another thoughtful 
pause, “ I think we will leave the matter just here, 
Louis, and trust that time will clear up what now 
seems to be a very mysterious affair. And you are 
not to feel yourself under a ban, either, for anything 
that your own conscience does not accuse you of; 
we will simply drop it and go as before.” 

This conclusion comforted Louis somewhat, al- 
though it was not what he craved by any means; 
nevertheless he was grateful to Mr. Weston for the 
justice he had manifested, and resolved that he 
would patiently await further developments. 


126 


STEP BY STEP 


Before he slept, however, he poured out his whole 
heart in a letter to Aunt Martha, and knew that, ere 
many days elapsed, he would receive a reply which 
would both cheer and strengthen him. The next 
morning he started for school, feeling more like him- 
self, for everybody — Jerry excepted — treated him 
the same as usual, thus proving that he was to be re- 
garded innocent of wrong until proven guilty. And 
he was also destined to be established on a better 
footing with his class that day, although the expe- 
rience was to be attended by some bitterness and 
humiliation. 

As he entered the playground a few moments be- 
fore the bell rang, one of the boys — a crony of Ben 
Pratt — yelled out at the top of his lungs : “ Here’s 
that Hew Hampshire beggar again.” 

But the words were scarcely uttered when the 
offender found himself firmly clutched by the shoul- 
der, while the stern voice of his teacher ominously 
demanded : 

“ What do you mean, Henry Jones, by speaking 
of Louis like that ? ” 

“ All the boys do,” muttered the crestfallen culprit 
with a frightened gasp. 

“ All?” 

“ Well, a lot of ’em do.” 

“ But why ? — why are you so cruel to a class- 
mate ? ” 

“ ’Cause — he was a pauper and came from a poor- 
house ; ” and the shamefaced offender guiltily hung 
his head. 


STEP BY STEP 


12 7 

“ Shame upon you ! — never let me hear it from 
your lips again,” said Miss Morton severely, and 
looking both indignant and resolute. 

When the opening exercises were over, she sent 
Louis with a note to another teacher telling him to 
wait for an answer. As soon as the door closed after 
him Miss Morton arose and sternly faced her class. 

“ I have something to say to the boys in this 
grade,” she gravely began. “ I have learned that 
some of you are doing Louis Arnold a great wrong, 
and I warn you if I know of the insult being re- 
peated I will send the offender directly to Mr. Rol- 
lins to be dealt with. And let me tell you, Louis’ 
father was a gentleman — the principal of a high 
school, and his mother was a lovely, cultured woman. 
Eurthermore, I wish you to know that Mr. William 
Richards of Chicago — I don’t need to tell you who 
he is — is Louis’ guardian; and, under his care, it 
is safe to say that he is likely to fare as well in the 
future as any one of you. Apart from all this, 
I am deeply pained to know that any members of 
my class could be so unkind as to taunt another with 
what he was in no way responsible for and what 
might have been your lot under similar circum- 
stances. Now you may take your books.” 

During recess there was quite a flutter of excite- 
ment among the pupils of the eighth grade, in view 
of what they had learned, and one curious youth 
waylaid Louis and confidentially inquired: 

“ I say, Louis, is it true that Mr. Richards is your 
guardian ? ” 


128 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Yes, why ? ” 

“ Miss Morton said so this morning, after you 
went upstairs. She gave us * Hail Columbia ’ be- 
cause we’d been calling you names. What is a 
guardian anyway ? ” 

“Well, I guess it means that he is to look after 
me until I am twenty-one, the same as your father 
takes care of you,” Louis replied. 

“ Oh, then you kind of belong to him ; and he’s 
awful rich too, isn’t he ? ” said the youth, as if 
deeply impressed. 

“ I don’t know.” 

“ Well, he is ; I heard my father say he’s got piles 
of money.” 

Louis did not appear to be at all elated in view 
of this information; at least he made no response 
to it. 

“ Where’s Ben Pratt ? ” he inquired irrelevantly, 
for Ben had not put in an appearance that day. 

“ He’s sick — had a fall the other day and cut his 
head.” 

“ Bad?” 

“ Well, Jim Brown said the doctor had to sew it 
up.” 

On his way home from school that afternoon 
Louis slipped round to the Pratt home to inquire 
for Ben. 

Mrs. Pratt, a tired-looking woman, came to the 
door with a baby in her arms. 

“ I’m Louis Arnold, and I’ve come to ask how 
Ben is,” he said, as he politely took off his hat 
to her. 


STEP BY STEP 


129 


“ He is better than he was yesterday ; but still in 
bed. Would you like to come in and see him?” 
Mrs. Pratt returned. Louis hesitated; he was not 
quite sure that he would be a welcome visitor. He 
wished to show that he held no grudge against the 
sick boy and had taken this way to do it. 

“ Pll come in to-morrow afternoon if he would 
like to have me,” he said after thinking a moment, 
adding heartily : “ I’m glad he is better.” 

u Thank you for coming to ask after him,” said 
Mrs. Pratt appreciatively. 

The next day, about the same hour, he again pre- 
sented himself at the door, bearing a well-filled paper 
bag in one hand, and was cordially greeted by Mrs. 
Pratt. 

“ You are the only boy who has called to see 
Benny,” she said, “ and he told me to let you go 
right up. You will find him in the first room on 
the left.” 

With rising color Louis mounted to the second 
floor, found the room designated, and Ben, bolstered 
up in bed, looking rather pale and with a towel 
bound about his head. 

“ Hello ! ” said the invalid by way of greeting, 
but with some embarrassment, as he met Louis’ smil- 
ing glance. 

“ Hello, Ben ! I’ve brought you some chestnuts,” 
responded Louis, going to the boy’s side and de- 
positing his generous offering — half of what he Had 
gathered the previous Friday — before him. 

if Chestnuts ! that’s bully ! ” was the eager re- 


STEP BY STEP 


130 

joinder. u I’ve hardly seen one this year — was goin’ 
myself last Saturday, but couldn’t. These are 
busters ! ” he added, drawing forth a handful. 
“ Where’d you get ’em ? ” 

“ On the hill back of the farm. I got about two 
quarts, last Friday, after school.” 

“ Friday ; that was the day I cracked my head 
open,” and Ben made a grimace as his wound gave 
him a twinge. 

“ Shall you go back to school this week \ ” Louis 
asked. 

“ I don’t know ; I shall if I can, ’cause it’s blamed 
lonesome here, shut up in the house ; but I get dizzy 
when I try to walk.” 

They chatted a while of various matters interesting 
to both, until Louis arose and said it was time for 
him to be getting home. 

“ I hope you’ll be all right in a day or two,” he 
said at parting. 

“ If I don’t show up by Thursday, will you come 
again ? ” Ben pleaded with a conscious flush. 

“ If — you want me to,” said Louis, with a note of 
doubt in his tone. 

“ All right ; I do, and you’re good to bring me half 
of your chestnuts — there must be a quart here,” said 
the boy. 

Ben did not “ show up” at school on Thursday 
and, true to his promise, Louis went to see him 
again. This time he took a game that had been given 
him the previous Christmas and they spent quite 
a social hour playing together, though he thought 


STEP BY STEP 


131 

the boy did not seem as well as during his former 
visit. 

While they were thus engaged Mrs. Pratt came 
into the room, looking quite disturbed. 

“ Benny, how did you tear your new jacket like 
this ? ” she inquired, holding up a sleeve from which 
a piece had been torn completely out. 

“ Oh, I caught it getting over a fence,” the boy in- 
differently replied and without turning from his 
game. 

“ But where is the piece ? ” demanded his mother. 

“ I didn’t think anything about the piece,” was the 
impatient retort. “ Go on Louis — it’s your turn.” 

“It is too bad, Benny; this new jacket! and I 
have nothing that will match it,” sighed Mrs. Pratt 
wearily. “ If I had the piece I could darn it in so 
it would never show ; now it will have to be patched 
with something else. You are very careless, Benny, 
with your clothes and I try so hard to keep you look- 
ing nice,” and with this reproof the much-tried 
mother left the room. 

The moment Louis saw the hole in the jacket, his 
heart gave a tremendous bound, while he involuntar- 
ily thrust one hand into his pocket and grasped his 
pocketbook. The fragment of cloth which lay in its 
inner compartment was exactly like that of the gar- 
ment ! 

His first impulse had been to produce it so that 
Mrs. Pratt could mend the hole nicely. Then came 
the thought : “ How could he explain where he had 
found it without involving Ben in trouble ? ” For 


l 3 2 


STEP BY STEP 


lie was very sure now that Ben was the boy who 
had ridden and lamed the colt and that his injured 
head was the price he had paid for that ride. 

What should he do about it ? He had come to see 
Ben because he was shut in, and he wanted to “ do 
good ” to his. “ persecutor ” ; and now he had discov- 
ered something which might make an even more 
bitter foe of him if he revealed it. His heart was 
very heavy, and his temples throbbed painfully ; but, 
in justice to himself, he felt that he must have it out 
with him before he left. 

“ What are you thinking about \ ” Ben suddenly 
demanded, as Louis seemed to have forgotten the 
game. 

“ About your jacket,” he replied, flushing crim- 
son. 

“ Darn the jacket ! ” said Ben irritably. “ What 
a fuss over a little hole — though I do hate patches,” 
he concluded, scowling. 

Louis felt this was his opportunity. He drew 
forth his pocketbook and taking the bit of cloth from 
its inner compartment laid it on the coverlid before 
his companion. 

“ There’s the piece, and she can darn it in,” he 
briefly observed. 

Ben regarded the frayed scrap in wide-eyed 
astonishment. 

“ Where’d you get that?” he asked. 

“’Twas caught on the upper rail of the bars to 
the pasture where we keep the colt,” Louis explained. 

Then as Ben looked conscious he bluntly queried: 


STEP BY STEP 


»33 


“ Did you ride Blackbird last Friday ? Jerry saw 
some one on his back and declares it was I. But it 
wasn’t, for I’d gone chestnutting. Did you get a 
spill? Was that how you hurt your head?” Louis 
demanded excitedly. 

Ben laughed uneasily; then meeting Louis’ eager 
eyes he burst out defiantly: 

“ What if I did ? Nobody’s hurt but me. I saw 
you ridin’ him one day and thought I’d risk a turn 
myself. I tore my jacket getting over the bars. 
That’s a dandy colt, though. I had a jolly ride till 
he stumbled and threw me off and I cut my head on 
a stone. I thought I was killed at first, but I crawled 
over the wall and lay down till I stopped seein’ stars, 
then came home. You needn’t look so glum about it,' 
though,” he concluded as he observed his visitor’s 
troubled face. 

“ The colt was hurt, as well as you,” said Louis 
gravely. “ He was lamed and we’re afraid he is 
ruined.” 

“ Gosh! ” ejaculated the sick boy in a frightened 
voice. Then he added with a quick, indrawn 
breath and a white face : “ Say, Louis, you won’t 
blab?” 

“ But Mr. Weston and Jerry think I did it,” said 
Louis, looking the boy straight in the eyes. 

Ben fell limply hack among his pillows. 

“ I vow ! that’s downright mean ! to go back on a 
sick fellow after getting it out of him this way ! ” 

“ I didn’t ‘ get it out ’ of you, Ben ; you told me of 
your own accord, and you ought to tell Mr. Weston 


i34 


STEP BY STEP 


yourself, and not let him blame me for it,” returned 
our hero with commendable spirit. 

“ Then my father’ll have to pay for the colt and 
he — he can’t afford to,” whimpered Ben timorously. 

Louis’ face fell. He knew that the Pratts were by 
no means in affluent circumstances — that, indeed, 
they had to struggle for a living, and he recalled how 
worried Mrs. Pratt looked. 

“ Perhaps Blackbird will get over it, then he 
wouldn’t have to be paid for,” he tried to say en- 
couragingly. 

Ben caught eagerly at this straw of hope. 

u Well, wait till I get better — promise you won’t 
say a word till I’m well,” he pleaded so plaintively 
and looked so white and wretched that Louis’ heart 
was touched. 

“ All right, I’ll wait,” he said stoically as he got 
up to go, feeling that he must get away by himself 
to battle with the sense of injustice and resentment 
that would assert itself, in spite of his desire to be 
good to a boy who was sick. 

A little later Mrs. Pratt on going to her son’s 
room found him crying bitterly, a circumstance that 
surprised her greatly, for he had always been a 
turbulent boy with, apparently, no softer side to his 
nature; and he had seldom shed tears to her knowl- 
edge. 

“ What is the matter, dear?” she questioned 
anxiously. 

“ My head hurts,” said the boy, as he hid his face 
in the pillow. 


STEP BY STEP 


l 35 

The next day when Louis went to school he heard 
that Ben was very ill with brain fever. 

Then there followed several weeks of suspense in 
connection with both the colt and Ben, for if the 
latter did not recover Louis felt that he could never 
prove his innocence of the injury to Blackbird. 

Meantime, however, he received a most comforting 
letter from Aunt Martha, who charged him not to 
worry, for she believed that the truth would some 
time be revealed. 

u But if it never is,” she wrote, “ you can, in time, 
live down the suspicions against you by invariable 
honesty and obedience in the future. But I know now 
that my boy is true blue.” 

A little later Blackbird began to show signs of 
improvement, and by the end of the fourth week he 
was so much better, Mr. Weston announced, to Louis 7 
exceeding joy, he had great hopes that, eventually, 
he would be as sound as ever. 

“ If he gets well, I guess I can bear all the rest, 
so I 7 m not going to fret over it any more , 77 Louis 
said to himself, out of the fullness of his thankful 
heart. 

About a week after this Ben Pratt sent for him 
again. Louis had heard that he was getting slowly 
better, but did not suppose he was well enough to 
see visitors. He was quite shocked, however, when 
he was ushered into his presence. Could that be 
Ben Pratt — that wasted figure lying upon the bed, 
his face almost as white as the pillow on which he 
rested ; his cheeks sunken, his hands like claws ? But 


STEP BY STEP 


136 

his eyes were bright and clear, and he nodded a 
smiling welcome to his guest as he entered. 

“ You’re better, Ben, and I’m glad,” Louis cor- 
dially observed as he moved quietly across the room 
and sat down beside him. 

“ Yes, I’m lots better and so hungry all the time. 
I can’t get enough to eat. But I’ve had a tough time, 
Louis — see ! ” and he held up a trembling hand that 
looked almost transparent in the light. “ How’s the 
colt ? ” he eagerly inquired with the next breath. 

u Oh, he is getting along all right.” 

“ Is he going to get well ? ” cried Ben with trem- 
bling lips. 

“ We hope so — we are almost sure he is,” returned 
Louis with comforting assurance. 

“ By — no, I won’t say it,” the boy interposed, as 
he caught the look of disapproval in his visitor’s eyes. 
“ I said if I got well I’d try to stop swearin’ ; but, 
truly, I’m almost too glad about the colt to bear it,” 
and his voice broke from mingled joy and weakness. 
“ Have — you told % ” he questioned, as soon as he 
recovered himself a little. 

Louis shook his head, but colored violently as he 
did so. 

u Truly ? ” persisted Ben, searching his face anx- 
iously. 

“ Course I haven’t- — I promised, you know.” 

Ben regarded him wonderingly for a moment. He 
very well knew that he could never have kept such 
a secret and borne the blame and suspicion which 
had fallen upon Louis. Suddenly his eyes wavered 


STEP BY STEP 


137 

and fell. He felt embarrassed and ashamed before 
such integrity. 

u You’re O. K.,” he finally remarked with a faint 
attempt at pleasantry. 

u It’s always O. K. to do what you know it’s right 
to do,” Louis gravely replied, and hoping Ben would 
now release him from his promise and set him right 
with Mr. Weston. But, evidently, he had no inten- 
tion of doing so, for he presently changed the subject, 
and Louis, deeply hurt, very soon took his leave. 

When Ben returned to school, while he was civil 
to Louis, he did not seek his companionship; on the 
contrary, he rather avoided him. But he was changed 
in many ways. He no longer bullied the small boys ; 
he was more studious, and respectful to his teacher, 
while a profane word seldom escaped his lips. 

Yet he did not seem quite happy ; instead of being 
a leader in the roughest sports as he once had been, 
he would now often wander off by himself at recess, 
or sit quietly watching the various games, especially 
when Louis was in the playground. 

This went on for some time, the two boys seldom 
coming in contact, while Louis had about given up 
all hope that Ben would ever “ do the square thing ” 
by him. 

One stormy Saturday, after a long, tedious day 
picking over apples with Jerry, who had been unusu- 
ally surly, Mrs. Weston asked him if he would do the 
errands uptown for her, as Mr. Weston, not feeling 
well, did not like to go out in the storm. 

Louis was only too glad of the opportunity, and 


138 STEP BY STEP 

set off, whistling merrily, and with Ponce for com- 
pany. 

His errands done he stopped at the post office, 
where he found an unusually large budget of papers 
and letters, after which he and Ponce made quick time 
back to get in out of the storm, and entered the cheer- 
ful, homelike kitchen just as Hannah was dishing 
up the fragrant baked beans and brown bread for 
supper. 

He took the mail in to Mr. Weston, then went to 
make himself ready for the table. 

The first letter the farmer opened and read caused 
the hot color to mount into his face, and a peculiar 
expression to come into his eyes and settle about his 
mouth. 

Presently turning to his wife he held out the mis- 
sive to her, remarking with visible agitation : 

“ Mother, I have something rather interesting here, 
if you would like to read it.” 

Wondering what interesting news could so disquiet 
her husband, Mrs. Weston took the letter and read it. 

Tears streamed over her cheeks before she had half 
perused it, and the following is a copy of the absorb- 
ing, though decidedly faulty, document that caused 
this emotion : 

Mr. Weston: i’v got something to tell you. 
Louis didn’t lame your colt, i done it and i’m glad 
he aint spoiled after all. i rid him that day and he 
didn’t like it for a cent, but i stuck til he stumbled 
and pitched me off, my head was cut open and i’ve 


STEP BY STEP 


139 

ben orful sick since. Louis found out how i got hurt 
and promised he wouldn’t tell while i was sick — guess 
he haint told yet, but i know it aint fair so i’m 
telling myself, i’v told Pa and he’s goin to write you 
a letter, i’m sorry. Ben Pratt. 

11 Louis, dear boy, is all right. I’ve felt from the 
first that he told the truth about Blackbird; and he 
has been so brave and patient through it all ! ” said 
Mrs. Weston, as she refolded Ben’s letter and wiped 
her tears. 

“ He has indeed,” heartily responded her hus- 
band, “ and I feel condemned now for not having 
had absolute faith in him ; but Jerry was so positive 
about what he saw, the evidence against him seemed 
pretty strong.” 

A few minutes later when Louis came into the 
room he observed : 

“ Here is a letter I want you to read. Ben Pratt 
has told me the whole story about the colt.” 

“ Ben has told you ! ” Louis repeated, his eyes 
growing big and bright, his whole face radiant. 
“ Gee — whiz ! but I began to be afraid he’d never 
do the square thing. Whew! if I was out of doors 
I’d yell so he’d hear me in town, I’m so glad,” and 
the boy could hardly keep from dancing with joy, so 
elated was he by this happy and unexpected ending 
of all his recent troubles ; while, as he read the letter, 
it seemed to him the most important epistle that was 
ever penned in spite of small i’s, bad spelling and 
faulty phraseology. 


140 


STEP BY STEP 


u How long have you known that Ben was the 
guilty one ? ” Mr. Weston inquired, smiling in sym- 
pathy with his joy. 

u I found it out the next Thursday after Blackbird 
was hurt,” he replied, and then related how and 
where he had discovered the scrap of cloth which had 
been torn from Ben’s jacket, and their talk about it 
afterwards during the call upon him. 

“ That was not quite fair to yourself, my boy, to 
promise to keep such a secret,” said the farmer when 
the story was told. 

“ Well, but he was sick; and a fellow doesn’t want 
to be hard on another when he is down,” Louis mod- 
estly affirmed. 

“ Were you never going to tell me about it ? ” in- 
quired his friend. 

“ What would have been the use ? After I’d given 
him the piece of cloth there was nothing to prove he 
did it, and I — I thought perhaps it would be taken 
care of, some way, if I did the best I could,” the lad 
explained with some embarrassment, while he 
thoughtfully traced a figure on the carpet with the 
toe of his slipper. 

Mr. Weston’s face was a study as he listened. 

“ Well, my son,” he observed, in a voice that was 
a trifle husky, after a moment of silence, “ if you 
govern all your future life with such absolute faith 
and unswerving principle, you’ll have ballast that 
will steady your craft into a safe harbor at last. 
There are older people who would do well to emulate 
your example, Louis, and I am happy and proud 


STEP BY STEP 


M 1 

to have such a boy in my home. ]STow ” — as the 
supper bell rang — “ let us top off with baked beans 
and brown bread ; ” and with a jovial laugh that 
was echoed by both his wife and Louis, the farmer 
led the way to the dining-room. 

After the meal was over he went to the barn and 
told Jerry the whole story. 

“ Eh ! — the Pratt boy ! — by gum I " That was all 
he said about it, but there was a sparkle of malicious 
enjoyment in Mr. Weston’s eyes as the man leaped 
to his feet and began to stalk nervously around the 
barn, going aimlessly from one stall to another and 
finally disappearing within Blackbird’s box, shutting 
the door after himself with a resounding bang. 

But the farmer knew Jerry was completely upset 
and wanted to fight it out alone, so he quietly went 
back to the house, feeling pretty sure that this vol- 
canic eruption would be productive of clearer skies 
and fairer weather in the future for Louis. 

Sunday afternon, about stock-feeding time, the boy 
strolled out to the barn. He loved every creature in 
it and liked to be around among them, even though 
of late Jerry had been so disaffected he would not 
allow him to do anything except what Mr. Weston 
ordered him to do. 

He looked up rather sheepishly as Louis entered. 
Then suddenly bracing up he remarked in a con- 
fidential tone: 

“ Say, Louis, I’m in a hurry to get off to-night ; 
want to help ? ” 

“ Course I’d like to help, Jerry. What’ll I do ? ” 


142 


STEP BY STEP 


“ S’pose — you feed ‘ the bird ’ and bed him down, 
and PH ’tend to the other critters,” said the man with 
unprecedented complaisance; for the care of Black- 
bird at night had become to him almost a religious 
rite in which no one else was allowed to participate. 

This unlooked-for manifestation of good-will al- 
most floored Louis ; but there was a whole chapter of 
meaning in it for him, and it was with difficulty he 
repressed a wild whoop of triumph over another con- 
quered foe as, with a matter-of-fact “ All right,” he 
slipped softly in beside the colt who greeted him with 
his old affectionate whinny. But here he had to let 
off steam, and throwing his arms about Blackbird’s 
graceful neck he buried his face in his glossy mane 
and gave him a vigorous hug as he gleefully whis- 
pered : 

“ We’ve trolled a long time to catch that fish, 
haven’t we, you black beauty? But I guess we’ve 
landed him all right at last.” And this was true, 
for during all his after life he had no more loyal 
and devoted friend than Jerry McLeod. 

We cannot follow our hero, in detail, through all 
the experiences of his home and school life. It must 
suffice to say that he grew to be more and more like 
a son to good Farmer Weston and his wife. He made 
steady progress in his studies and entered the high 
school two years after becoming a member of their 
family. Here he also won many friends among his 
classmates as well as “ golden opinions ” from his 
teachers ; and so time sped on. 

He had just started on his senior year, when, one 


STEP BY STEP 


H3 


morning, on entering the school-building he suddenly 
came face to face with a new scholar — a young girl 
of perhaps fifteen years. She was dressed all in 
black; her long, glittering braid of golden hair was 
tied with a great bow of black ribbon, while a hat of 
the same sombre hue surmounted a fair face that was 
like a delicately-carved cameo. 

“ I beg pardon/” said Louis, doffing his cap, as he 
courteously stepped aside to allow her to pass. 

The next moment his heart gave a great startled 
bound as, after his observing eyes had swept the beau- 
tiful face a second time, he recognized an old ac- 
quaintance. 

“ She is — Gipsy ! ” he breathed, amazed, and 
turned to watch the graceful figure as the girl, all 
unconscious of the conflicting emotions she had 
aroused in the heart of “ that stunning-looking fel- 
low,” walked on toward the dressing-room to remove 
her coat and hat before going to her class-room. 


144 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTEK XI. 

Louis was so excited over his startling discovery 
and the distracting presence of the new scholar, it 
was with difficulty he could settle down to his work 
that morning, while he was all on the qui vive to 
learn something about her — her name and how she 
happened to appear upon the scene so unexpectedly, 
and, most wonderful of all, at her age a senior in the 
high school. 

During recess his curiosity was somewhat ap- 
peased upon learning that the name of the new pupil 
was Margaret Churchill Lawrence, and throughout 
the remainder of the day he frequently found him- 
self studying the face of its owner to ascertain, if 
possible, whether the somewhat high-sounding cog- 
nomen fitted her nicely. He thought, on the whole, 
it did, although perhaps a few years later she might 
be better able to support the dignity of it. 

She had changed much during the five years that 
had elapsed since their meeting. 

She had been a dear little fairy at that time, a 
sweet-tempered child, bubbling over with buoyant 
happiness and spirits. How she had spun up into 
a tall slip of a girl, who bade fair to be very lovely 
a few years later, and had acquired an air and bear- 
ing that was entirely different from the Gipsy who 


STEP BY STEP 


H5 

had been so light-hearted and care-free on the day 
of their first meeting at the county fair. 

Louis felt almost sure that she must have known 
some recent sorrow which had saddened her, for there 
was a grieved look about her eyes and a pathetic droop 
to the sweet lips ; then, too, her black dress and rib- 
bons were suggestive. All the same, he thought she 
was very winsome, and he was impatient to make 
her acquaintance. 

He wondered if she would be glad to get back her 
pretty ring, which, however, would be much too small 
for her now, and which he still carefully preserved 
with his mother’s wedding ring in a small compart- 
ment of a beautiful writing-desk which Mrs. Rich- 
ards had added to the furnishings of his room during 
a recent visit home. 

The next day while he was chatting with Charlie 
Osgood and Nellie Evarts, two other classmates and 
friends, Margaret Lawrence’s name was mentioned, 
when Nellie said she had met her, adding with girlish 
impulsiveness : 

“ And she is just as sweet and lovely as she looks.” 

“ Is she one of the — ahem ! — swell kind % ” queried 
Charlie Osgood with an indescribable air and smirk. 

“ What do you mean by that ? ” inquired Nellie. 

“ Oh, you know. One of the Josephine Ashton 
kind ; ” and he gave his head a haughty toss, be- 
stowing a cold, supercilious stare upon her, in lu- 
dicrous imitation of the proud daughter of the mil- 
lionaire of the town. 

“ Eie, you naughty boy ! Josephine isn’t half so 


STEP BY STEP 


146 

bad as that, when you come to know her,” said 
the young girl, in stout defense of her absent class- 
mate. 

“ She is very different from you, anyhow, Nellie. 
I can’t endure the swish-swash of her silks and 
satins ; and the glare of her diamonds makes me mad. 
Girls have no business to dress like that for school. 
Now you are sensible ” — running his eye approvingly 
over her trim figure in its simple blue serge suit — 
“ and I’ll bet Miss Lawrence is too ; she looks as neat 
as a new pin.” 

“ Thank you, Charlie, for myself ; and doubtless 
Miss Lawrence would also appreciate the compliment 
from such high authority,” Nellie laughingly re- 
turned, and flushing slightly, for Charlie Osgood, in 
her estimation, was about the nicest, if not the very 
finest boy in the class. 

“ But does she live on the North or the South 
side % ” he pursued mischievously, “ for if she isn’t 
located on the South, in a three-story swell front 
house with an observatory and a conservatory and all 
that, she can’t be in our set, you know.” 

Now, the “ North side ” and the “ South side ” 
meant a great deal in that beautiful suburb of Bos- 
ton. A lovely stream divided the town into two 
sections, the southern, or newer, swell portion, stretch- 
ing away up on the hills, and bristling with fine resi- 
dences; and the north part, which had once been 
thought very nice, but was now looked down upon, in 
more senses than one, by its would-be aristocratic 
neighbors. 


STEP BY STEP 


H7 

“ Charlie appears to be in a sarcastic mood this 
morning,” Louis here interposed. 

“ Well, you see, I’m interested in the new scholar,” 
he returned with twinkling eyes but with mock anx- 
iety. “ She looks O. K. to me, but if she isn’t located 
right, you know, she cannot swing in our circle. 
We/' assuming a pompous air and inflating his chest, 
“ live in a rarefied atmosphere, consequently, under 
such superior conditions, it is natural we should 
dilate, inflate, swell; while those poor mortals down 
yonder are of no earthly account, because fashion has 
set a dividing line, and decrees — ‘ thus far and no 
farther.’ Eaugh ! ” 

“ You are too ridiculous, Charlie,” said Nellie, 
laughing ; “ though I know a-s well as you do that it is 
perfectly absurd to assume that people on this side of 
the river are of more account simply because they 
have more money, live in nicer houses, and real estate 
is valued higher.” 

“ Just as if houses or land could make any essen- 
tial difference in the people who own them, or money 
could buy either brains or character ! ” Louis here 
quietly observed, but with a scornful curl of his lips 
that spoke volumes. 

“ It is all bosh,” said Charlie impatiently ; “ but 
there’s a lot of that feeling in the town, and in the 
school, too; and I’m disgusted with it.” 

Then it will not shock either of you to learn that 
the Lawrences live on the North side,” remarked 
Nellie with a twinkle of mischief in her bright eyes, 
“ and I’m afraid they are rather poor. Margaret’s 


STEP BY STEP 


148 

father died about a year ago; she has a brother in 
Harvard, and she and her mother came here to live 
to be near him. They’ve taken the Hand cottage on 
Morse Street. I’ve heard, though, that they used to 
have a great deal of money, and they say that Mar- 
garet is a great scholar. She must be to be in our 
class, for she is only fifteen.” 

“ Great Scott ! ” exclaimed Charlie in surprise, 
while Louis flushed slightly, but said nothing. 

“ I think she is splendid, and I’m going to culti- 
vate her — ” began Hellie. 

“ In spite of the Horth side and the Hand cottage,” 
interposed Charlie with a chuckle. “ You have 
pluck, Hell!” 

“ Thank you ; and since you are also so demo- 
cratic I shall expect you to stand by me,” she flashed 
back, then added roguishly : “ There she comes now ; 
brace up and I’ll introduce you.” 

Louis gave a start of eagerness, for he most ear- ' 
nestly desired a formal introduction to Miss Law- 
rence. Charlie, on the other hand, being a trifle 
shy of strangers, flushed to his eyes and began to 
edge off when, chancing to glance behind him, his 
bashfulness was superseded by an amusing effort to 
“ brace up ” and stand his ground. 

“ Oh, yes, do,” he cried with a deepening flush, 

“ for there comes J o. Ashton herself — 

“ With rings on her fingers and praps on her toes, 
Always in silks and satins wherever she goes,” 

he paraphrased. “ I’d rather face a dozen new girls 


STEP BY STEP 


149 

any day than to run against her imperial highness 
in all that toggery.” 

And so, to escape the richest girl in town, bashful 
Charlie Osgood allowed himself to be introduced to 
Miss Lawrence, and really bore himself very credit- 
ably. 

When Louis was presented to her, Margaret started 
slightly and gave him a searching look. 

“ Are you — ” she began impulsively, after ac- 
knowledging the introduction, then cut herself short 
and blushed for having so nearly reminded him of 
something which might be unpleasant to recall; for 
this manly, handsome, well-dressed fellow did not 
look as if he could ever have been the forlorn little 
tramp whom she had met at the county fair, five 
years ago. 

Louis understood and smiled frankly into her eyes. 

“ Yes, Pm the same boy who rescued your flying 
hat that day up in Yew Hampshire,” he said, add- 
ing : u and it is rather queer, isn’t it, that we should 
now find ourselves here in the same school together ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed it is, and I have often wondered 
what became of you,” Margaret replied. “ We tried 
to find you again that day, hut you had disappeared. 
Papa was going to ask you to go home with us.” 

“ So you are old acquaintances ! ” exclaimed Yellie 
Evarts in surprise. “ Well, wonders will never 
cease ! ” 

A moment or two later she and Charlie turned to 
speak to some other classmates, when Louis, drawing 
nearer his companion, remarked in a low tone: 


150 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Miss Lawrence, the bag of candy you gave me 
upon that occasion proved to be a more valuable gift 
than you dreamed of, I imagine.” 

Margaret looked perplexed, and Louis smilingly 
continued : 

“ I was very economical with its contents, for I 
did not know when I would have any more, so it was 
three weeks later when I came to my last chocolate 
cream and found something, which I am sure you did 
not intend to give me, almost buried in it — it was 
this.” 

He produced a tiny box as he spoke and handed 
it to her. He had slipped it into his pocket that 
morning, thinking he would give it to her the first 
opportunity that offered. 

With a look of wonder Margaret lifted the cover, 
to find her long-lost ring reposing upon a bed of 
snowy cotton. 

“ Oh ! my ring ! ” she cried joyfully, instantly 
recognizing it. Then the hot tears rushed into her 
eyes, almost blinding her. “ Papa gave it to me that 
very day — it was my birthday gift, and I was heart- 
broken over losing it,” she explained with tremulous 
lips. 

“ I tried to find you a little later and restore it,” 
Louis observed, and then described his visit to, and 
interview with, the postmaster, and how disappointed 
he had been over his failure. 

“ I am so glad to have it again, though it is too 
small now for any finger, except my little one,” said 
the girl, regarding it fondly, “ It was my first ring 


STEP BY STEP 


151 

with a setting ; and, though I have had several others 
since, not one has ever seemed quite so fine. I thank 
you more than I can tell you for taking such nice care 
of it” 

“ You cannot be more glad than I that its owner 
has it back again,” said Louis ; “ and now Pd like to 
ask about your brother.” 

“ Oh, Ted ? — he is in Harvard, a junior, and is 
trying to work his own way through college,” Mar- 
garet explained, flushing slightly as she thus frankly 
referred to the change in her circumstances. “ We 
lost papa last year,” she went on with an effort. 
“ He had had a lot of trouble for a couple of years, 
and it wore him out; but Ted was so well started in 
his course, papa made him promise he would try and 
go through. He finds it pretty hard, though ; but he 
is brave and a good worker, and Pm sure he will win 
out,” she concluded with a glow of sisterly pride. 

“ Our home used to be in Lawrence,” she presently 
resumed — “ the city was named, years ago, for one 
of papa’s ancestors — but we always spent our sum- 
mers in Hew Hampshire, so that is how we happened 
to be at the county fair that day. After we lost papa, 
our home had to be sold ; so mamma and I came here 
to live, in order to be near Ted.” 

“ I am sure you will like it here,” Louis hastened 
to say, for this reference to her old home had seemed 
to sadden her. “ Everybody thinks this is a beautiful 
town.” 

Then he told her something of his own experiences 
cjpring the last five years, and they ebatted socially 


152 


STEP BY SiEP 


until the bell rang, then walked to the building to- 
gether, feeling very much like old acquaintances re- 
united. 

Margaret Lawrence very soon became friendly 
with most of her class, even though she made no pre- 
tense of being other than she was — a girl who was 
fitting herself to be a teacher because she would have 
her own living to earn in the future. Josephine 
Ashton and a few others, however, openly ignored 
her after ascertaining her social standing, simply 
giving her a cold stare and a frigid bow whenever 
they chanced to meet. 

Kind-hearted Kellie Evarts tried to excuse Jo- 
sephine^ treatment by explaining that her father was 
a millionaire; that she lived in the finest residence 
in town, and had everything she wanted. 

“ Is she a good scholar ? ” Margaret inquired, and 
without appearing to be very deeply impressed by 
the account of the girl’s wealth and position. 

" Eirst-rate ; she almost always leads the class, 
but when anyone happens to go to the front I tell 
you her head goes up higher than ever, and woe be 
to the offender.” 

Margaret made no response to this, but the lines 
about her mouth settled a little more firmly, and tho 
sweet blue eyes grew darker and brighter from some 
secret thought. 

It was not very long before the ambitious ones in 
the class became conscious that they would have to 
work even more diligently in order to retain the 
laurels which they had already won; for the new 


STEP BY STEP 


*53 

scholar soon proved herself to be an exceptionally 
brilliant student. Every lesson was thoroughly pre- 
pared; her recitations were well-nigh perfect, Pro- 
fessor Allyn not unfrequently expressing commenda- 
tion of her proficiency in this respect. 

In mathematics she was almost a prodigy — u a 
mathematical wonder,” Charlie Osgood called her one 
day in the hearing of Josephine Ashton, who had 
grown very jealous of her. 

“ Oh, dear ! Pm tired to death hearing that Law- 
rence girl’s praises sounded upon every occasion — do 
give us a rest,” she petulantly exclaimed. 

“ But just think of it,” persisted the boy with a 
touch of malice. “ She is only fifteen years old, and 
yet those knotty algebra problems seem as simple as 
the multiplication table to her. I tell you, she’s the 
smartest girl I ever saw,” he concluded admir- 
ingly. 

“ Humph ! you don’t suppose for a minute that she 
does all those problems and gets the correct answers 
without any outside help, do you ? ” sharply de- 
manded Miss Ashton. 

“ Why, yes, of course I do,” Charlie positively 
affirmed. 

“ She says she does,” Hellie Evarts here inter- 
posed. “ She told me that her father used to coach 
her in mathematics, but made her reason everything 
out for herself ; and besides, she likes that study bet- 
ter than any other.” 

“ Pudge ! I’ll bet she gets help from some one,” 
excitedly retorted Josephine, who found the discus- 


154 STEP BY STEP 

sion getting too warm for her, and who forgot that 
it is not lady-like to bet. 

A few days later there was a very difficult lesson 
in algebra, embracing three or four unusually hard 
problems to be solved, and there were many clouded 
brows and anxious faces in the class when the hour 
for recitation arrived. 

Mr. Allyn began to assign the work as usual, but 
was met with the prompt response — “ I can’t do it, 
sir,” from everyone upon whom he called. 

He ran his eye over the class, marked the flushed 
faces and averted eyes, and smiled; for he had not 
forgotten his own struggles, years before, with these 
very problems. 

“ Is there anyone present who will put the four- 
teenth on the board and explain it to the class ? ” he 
inquired. 

The boys mostly wore a half-defiant, “ I-can’t-but-I- 
don’t-care ” expression, and the girls appeared con- 
fused and discouraged; but no one made any move 
to comply with his request. 

“ Well, well! ” said the professor good-naturedly; 
“ this lesson was a poser, wasn’t it ? — but I really 
hoped there would be some one who would conquer 
these giants in the way. Miss Lawrence, were they 
too much for you also \ ” 

“ H-o, sir,” modestly returned Margaret. She had 
shrunk from making herself conspicuous by offering 
to put the problem he had called for on the board. 

“ Ah ! ” he said in a satisfied tope, “ have you 
worked them all out f 77 


STEP BY STEP 


155 


“ Yes, sir.” 

“ Then please put the fourteenth on the board and 
explain it to the class.” 

Margaret arose to comply with his request, but as 
she was passing Josephine Ashton, the jealous girl 
sneered audibly and muttered something about a 
“ mathematical prodigy,” which sent the blood tin- 
gling to Margaret’s finger-tips. 

But she quickly performed her work, then ex- 
plained it in a way to show that she clearly compre- 
hended it, after which she quietly returned to her 
seat amid the applause of the class; for the four- 
teenth was the biggest stumbling-block in the way and 
the key to all the others. 

One morning about a week after this, the class 
realized that something had gone very wrong, the 
moment Professor Allyn entered the room. 

As soon as the opening exercises were concluded, 
he rapped sharply upon his desk for attention, which 
was instantly accorded him. 

u Scholars,” he began in a cold, stern tone, “ noth- 
ing could cause me keener pain than to learn that 
any member of this class would be guilty of decep- 
tion, or any dishonorable act, in order to gain a high 
standard of scholarship : it would not only be a great 
wrong against others, but most degrading to the 
offender. I regret to say I have reason to believe 
that there is some one in the room who has a key to 
the algebra we are using, which, as you all know, is 
strictly forbidden. And now , the one who has such a 
boQ'k may bring it to the fasTc” 


STEP BY STEP 


156 

There was an oppressive silence in the room when 
he concluded. Every face before him wore a look of 
blank amazement, while not a student moved to do 
his bidding. 

Professor Allyn stood like a statue, his face white 
and set from displeasure, while he waited to be 
obeyed. 

Still no one moved. 

(t I perceive I shall be obliged to resort to more 
radical measures/’ he said sharply. u As I call the 
roll let each scholar reply £ yes ’ or 6 no/ as the case 
may be.” 

The roll was called. The response was invariably : 

“ No, sir.” 

The man’s eyes flashed fire as he concluded and 
put down the record. 

“ Let every book be removed from each desk and 
placed upon the top,” he thundered. 

There were wondering faces and quaking hearts 
as the work of examining the desks began. 

The very first book that Margaret Lawrence drew 
forth was the forbidden key! 


STEP BY STEP 


l 57 


CHAPTER XII. 

An expression of mingled astonishment and con- 
sternation swept over Margaret’s face as her glance 
fell upon the little volume which she had never seen 
until that moment. Then the hot, swift color surged 
up to her temples, an overwhelming flame, hut only 
to recede as quickly as it came and leave her start- 
lingly pale and with a heart beating with almost 
suffocating rapidity. 

What did it mean ? What could she do ? 

She had aflirmed to her principal and in the pres- 
ence of the whole school that she had nothing of the 
kind in her possession, and here, in her hands, she 
held the witness to her apparent guilt and a falsehood 
to conceal it. 

What could she say? how establish her innocence 
and win back the confidence and respect of her 
teacher and her classmates in the face of such con- 
clusive evidence ? 

For a moment, that seemed an age, she was almost 
crushed with grief and shame, as she tried to think 
how she could meet this trying ordeal. The next 
she arose in her seat, though she trembled in every 
limb, and held the book aloft where it could be seen 
by everyone in the room. 

“ Professor Allyn,” she began in a clear but trem- 


STEP BY STEP 


158 

ulous voice, “ I have found a key to our algebra in 
my desk; but I do not know how it came there. I 
have never used a mathematical key in my life — I 
have never even seen one before.” 

Every eye was fixed upon her, and there was a 
sharp rustle of excitement throughout the room. 

Professor Allyn’s searching eyes did not leave her 
face while she was speaking; indeed he had been 
covertly watching her from the first, and he had been 
considerably perplexed by her manner ; but there was 
the evidence of her guilt in her hands, and what 
could he think? 

“ Miss Lawrence, I am more pained than I can 
express,” he gravely remarked. “ I knew the key 
was in your desk, for I went to it this morning to 
get the philosophy I loaned you yesterday, and in my 
search for that the key came to light.” 

“ But it was not here yesterday afternoon when I 
left the room,” Margaret affirmed with quivering 
lips, “ for I arranged everything at the close of 
school and only my usual books were in my desk ; be- 
sides, I always do my algebra problems at home, and 
if I had been in the habit of using a key I should 
never have brought it to school.” 

This was certainly a telling argument, and Pro- 
fessor Allyn’s face lost something of its stern look. 

“ Could it be possible,” he asked himself, “ that the 
girl had an enemy in the class, who, jealous of her 
proficiency in mathematics, had taken this cowardly 
way to place her in a false position?” 

She did not appear like a person capable of such 


STEP BY STEP 


*59 

deception; her eyes met his frankly and steadily, 
but yet with a look of pain and perplexity in them 
that strongly appealed to him. 

He hardly knew what to think — what course to 
pursue. He now regretted that he had made the 
matter so public, that he had not sought her person- 
ally, and privately charged her with the offense ; but 
he had been so indignant upon finding the book — 
which seemed to prove that both he and the entire 
class had been grossly and habitually deceived — he 
felt that only open exposure and reprimand were 
adequate punishment for such a misdemeanor. And 
yet, what if she were innocent, after all ? 

“ You may be seated, Miss Lawrence, and I will 
inquire further into the matter by and by,” he finally 
remarked, and Margaret sank into her chair, her 
heart almost breaking with humiliation and a keen 
sense of injustice. 

When recess time came she was too wretched to 
go out to mingle with her classmates, so remained in 
her seat, with the obnoxious key still lying on her 
desk, a mute reminder of her recent mortification. 

Every scholar had left the room and Professor 
Allyn had gone to another portion of the building, 
much to Margaret’s regret, for she had hoped that he 
would take this opportunity to “ inquire further into 
the matter,” thus she almost felt as if she were ostra- 
cized from the support and sympathy of everyone. 

But she had not been alone three minutes, when 
Louis Arnold looked in at the door, then came di- 
rectly to her. They had become quite friendly by 


i6o 


STEP BY STEP 


this time, and lier face lighted instantly at his ap- 
proach. 

“ I have come to tell you that I do not believe you 
ever used that key, Miss Margaret/’ he said, then 
added : “ And the general opinion among the boys 
is that some one has played a mean trick upon you.” 

“ Thank you for coming to tell me of your con- 
fidence in me,” Margaret returned, but finding it 
almost more than she could do to preserve her self- 
possession at this evidence of faith and good-will. 
After a moment she went on : “ But I cannot prove 
that I did not use the key, and of course I cannot help 
feeling very unhappy about it.” 

“ I believe you can prove it,” Louis replied, after 
thinking a moment. 

“ How ? ” she questioned eagerly. 

“ You can give up the book to Professor Allyn, 
and then if you continue to do your work just as well 
as before that would be proof enough for everybody.” 

“ I don’t know,” said Margaret doubtfully ; “ they 
might reason that I could easily procure another.” 

“ I had not thought of that,” said Louis ; then as 
his eye fell upon the key, he asked : “ Is this the 
miserable bone of contention ? ” 

“ Yes,” replied Maragaret, regarding it askance. 

te May I look at it % ” 

“ Of course, if you like — I have not even opened 
it.” 

Louis picked it up and slowly slipped the leaves 
through his fingers, glancing curiously at the pages 
as he did so. 


STEP BY STEP 161 

Suddenly he paused as a small square of paper 
fluttered out and fell to the floor. 

“ What is this, I wonder % ” he remarked as he 
stooped to recover it. 

It proved to be a piece of tissue paper, such as is 
placed between visiting cards to prevent the name 
which has been engraved or printed thereon being 
soiled, and on this there was the faint imprint of 
a name — very faint it was, and the lettering, being re- 
versed, seemed almost illegible. 

He turned it over, but with not much better re- 
sults; then held it up to the light and studied it 
intently for a moment or two. 

“ Aha ! ” he finally exclaimed in a tone of satis- 
faction, “ I suspected as much.” 

“ What is it ? ” Margaret questioned almost breath- 
lessly. 

He held the paper between her eyes and the light, 
and she beheld, traced in very indistinct characters, 
some of which were scarcely distinguishable, a name 
that looked like “ Robert G. Ashton.” 

The girl suddenly flushed an angry scarlet, and her 
usually gentle eyes flashed fire as they met those of 
her companion in a mutually comprehensive look. 

“ Josephine Ashton did it,” said Louis in a tone 
of conviction. “ Bob Ashton is her brother ; he 
graduated from Harvard last year, and this key must 
belong to him. I am going straight to Professor 
Allyn to tell him about it.” 

His own eyes were blazing with indignation, his 
lips curled, his nostrils dilated with scorn, and he 


l6 2 


STEP BY STEP 


betrayed evidences of excitement that were very un- 
usual in our young hero, who was habitually self- 
contained and rarely allowed himself to act upon the 
impulse of the moment. 

Had this discovery been made in his own interest, 
doubtless he would have gone away by himself and 
thought it all over very carefully before taking any 
step against the one who had perpetrated the wrong 
against him; but now all the chivalry in his nature 
had been aroused to defend this girl who had been 
the victim of a mean jealousy, and so unjustly and 
publicly disgraced because of it. 

Somehow he felt called upon — almost as if he had 
the right, so to speak — to stand by her; for, away 
back at the time of their first meeting, there had 
seemed to be a kind of bond established between 
them — a bond which the possession of her little ring 
for so many years had been the guarantee, even 
though she had never dreamed he had it. Then, too, 
she had lost her father, her brother was away in 
college, and there was no one else to fight her battles 
here in school. 

For the moment Margaret herself had felt almost 
as anxious as he to have Mr. Allyn and everybody 
else in the class know the truth ; in that first flash of 
angry feeling she had thought that no punishment, 
however severe, could be too heavy to be meted out 
to one who had wronged her as Josephine Ashton 
had done. 

Then she began to consider what the consequences 
would be. If, through this discovery, Josephine 


STEP BY STEP 


163 

should be publicly disgraced, and the contempt of 
her teacher and the whole class be turned upon her, 
it would only serve to make of her a more bitter 
enemy than now; and she had been yearning to be 
upon friendly terms with her. 

Her own suffering had been, still was, terrible 
beyond description — almost more than she could 
bear, she thought; how then could she wish anyone 
else to be subjected to the same experience ? Would 
it not be better to go quietly to Josephine, have it out 
with her and trust to her honor to vindicate her ? 

“ What do you suppose Professor Allyn would do 
if he knew ? ” she inquired of Louis, after running 
these things over in her own mind. 

“ Why, just what he ought to do — bring the real 
culprit to summary justice,” he spiritedly responded, 
and then turned with the book in his hand as if to 
go directly to find the principal. 

Margaret put out a trembling hand to detain him. 

“ Wait — please; don’t,” she pleaded. “ J p 

“ Of course I shall, or else you must,” he inter- 
posed with decision. “ This is the meanest trick I 
ever heard of, and I’m not going to stand tamely 
by and let you bear such a wrong. I should feel like 
a — a coward.” 

Margaret smiled faintly at his earnestness. 

“ You are very good to take my part so bravely,” 
she said gratefully ; “ but I think I would like to 
settle this quietly if I can. I believe I will return 
the book to Miss Ashton, and perhaps, when she 
learns what we have discovered, she may be willing 


STEP BY STEP 


164 

to do what is right. Please promise me you will not 
say anything about it — at least until I see what I 
can do.” 

“ I don’t like to do that,” said Louis reluctantly. 
“ Why, I should think you would be too angry for 
anything, and feel that nothing would be bad 
for her.” 

“ I did feel so at first,” the girl confessed with a 

burning flush ; “ but ” 

“ Well ? ” 

“ I know I should feel mean and sorry afterwards 
if I should do anything out of a spirit of revenge; 
it isn’t quite the right way to treat an enemy, you 
know,” Margaret returned with downcast eyes. 

Louis experienced a sudden inward shock at her 
words. In his ardor to espouse her cause and see jus- 
tice done her, he had forgotten his own rule of life for 
the time being. He also had been taught to return 
good for evil; to bless them that persecute; and he 
also now flushed crimson under the gentle rebuke. 

“ I understand,” he said in a low tone. “ I know 
that what you want to do is right, and you will feel 
better for giving Miss Ashton a chance. But a fel- 
low hates to see a girl abused as you have been, and 
it almost makes me feel like a sneak to know about 
this and let you bear blame that doesn’t belong to you. 
All the same, I’ll promise not to say anything about 
it if you wish me to.” 

“ Thank you ever so much ; and now let me tell 
you it has done me a great deal of good to have this 
little talk with you, and ” 



The boy and girl both started violently as Professor Allyn’s cold, 
grave tones fell upon their ears. Page 165 


















































































STEP BY STEP 


it>5 

u What is this you are promising not to tell, Ar- 
nold ? Ah ! I will take that hook if you please.” 

The boy and girl both started violently as Pro- 
fessor Allyn’s cold, grave tones fell upon their ears. 
They had been standing by an open window looking 
out upon the street, and had been so absorbed in their 
confidential talk they had not observed the man’s 
approach until he was close beside them. 

Both colored consciously at his question and de- 
mand; but, in his loyalty to Margaret, Louis’ hand 
closed involuntarily over the key as he glanced in- 
quiringly at her to ascertain if he should give it up. 

u The book, Arnold ! ” the principal reiterated 
authoritatively, and the young man reluctantly re- 
linquished it to him, yet with a secret hope that he 
also would discover the truth. 

“ Do you know anything about this key ? ” Pro- 
fessor Allyn demanded, as he searched the boy’s face 
with his keen eyes. 

u I — I never saw it until this morning, sir,” Louis 
replied evasively. 

“ Miss Lawrence has also made the same state- 
ment,” the principal dryly observed ; “ but do either 
of you know to whom it belongs ? ” 

Both were silent and greatly embarrassed. 

Louis had promised Margaret that he would not 
give away what he knew, yet he was just aching to 
do so ; while the young girl was in an agony of fear 
lest her plan for returning good for evil should come 
to nought. 

u Arnold, do you know ? ” persisted his teacher. 


i66 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Y — es, sir ; but I have just promised Miss Law- 
rence that I would not tell,” was the reluctant reply. 

“ Very well ” — sharply — “ I will not compel you 
to break your word ; but this is a very serious matter 
and must be thoroughly sifted; and I insist, Miss 
Lawrence, that you tell me to whom this key belongs 
—ah!” 

Erom force of habit the man had opened the book 
to glance at the fly leaf, and there lay the square of 
tissue paper which Louis had carefully placed inside 
the cover after showing it to his companion. 

Professor Allyn examined it critically, but at first 
making nothing of it, he also held it up to the light 
and then spelled out the name “ Robert G. Ashton.” 

He gazed in perplexity first at Louis then at 
Margaret, as he began to comprehend the situation; 
then the whole plot suddenly flashed upon his 
mind. 

He had known that Josephine Ashton had been 
very jealous of Margaret — knew that she had easily 
borne off the laurels of the class until this young 
girl appeared upon the scene to take the lead, when 
she had betrayed an intolerance, a petty spite which 
had both pained and surprised him. How he was 
appalled as he began to see through the plot to injure 
an innocent classmate, and he regretted more than 
ever having made the affair so public. How there 
were two involved and, in order to do full justice to 
Margaret, he would be obliged to make just as open 
an example of Josephine as he had made of Mar- 
garet; whereas, if he had taken more time to con- 


STEP BY STEP 167 

sider, all might have been quietly settled between 
himself and the two girls. 

“ I understand,” he said sadly, after taking this 
bird’s-eye view of the situation. “ But why did you 
wish Arnold to promise not to reveal what you had 
discovered? What were you intending to do about 
this disgraceful affair ? ” he inquired of Margaret. 

She saw that the secret was out and there would be 
nothing gained by trying to conceal anything; that 
it would be better to frankly explain her attitude to 
him. 

“ Miss Ashton has appeared to dislike me ever 
since I entered the school,” she began ; “ but I like 
to be friendly with all my classmates. I do not be- 
lieve she stopped to think what a dreadful thing she 
was doing when she put the key in my desk — for, of 
course, after finding her brother’s name in it, we 
know she must have done it — and I thought if I 
quietly returned the book to her, without making 
any fuss about it, she would know I wished to be 
kind and considerate, and so might perhaps be will- 
ing to set me right, at least with you ” 

u And you were going to trust to her honor to do 
this, after suffering such a wrong at her hands ! ” 
interposed Professor Allyn, his face glowing with 
his admiration for the high-minded girl, while Louis’ 
eyes plainly expressed his appreciation of her beau- 
tiful spirit. 

u Sometimes it is better to trust people than to 
condemn them,” said Margaret thoughtfully, “ any- 
how I was willing to try it.” 


i68 


STEP BY STEP 


“Even to the utter sacrifice of self! for, once 
having relinquished this bit of paper and with Ar- 
nold pledged to secrecy, you would have no proof 
of your innocence,” said the Principal, and won- 
dering if she had thought of this. 

“ I know,” said the girl, flushing ; “ but — if one 
could win a friend ” 

“But Miss Ashton could never be your friend 
without first doing you full justice,” interposed her 
teacher. 

Margaret’s eyes were luminous as she lifted them 
to his. 

“ Of course I know she can never be happy 
until she does right,” she gently replied ; “ but if 
she could be helped on the way it would be a — a 
double conquest, wouldn’t it ? ” 

Professor Allyn reached down and clasped the 
girl’s hand. 

“ Miss Lawrence — Margaret,” he said with evi- 
dent emotion, “ I have no words to express my ap- 
preciation of such self-abnegation ; but ” — in a 
positive tone — “ justice will not allow me to aid and 
abet you to quite the extent you desire. I will gladly 
help you to win your friend and Miss Ashton to do 
right; but you must be vindicated before the class. 
I will, however, think the matter over more at length 
before taking any action. Meantime you may solace 
yourself by knowing that you have my unbounded 
admiration and esteem. God bless you, my girl ! ” 

He turned away, deeply moved, taking the key 
with him, while Margaret and Louis smiled into each 


STEP BY STEP 169 

other’s eyes with mutual satisfaction, in view of the 
promising outlook for the future. 

u By Jingo! I didn’t think there was another 
woman in the world quite like Aunt Martha ; but her 
mother must come pretty near up to her mark,” quoth 
Louis to himself as, at the ringing of the bell, he 
went back to his own seat. 

Before the session closed there was laid upon 
Josephine Ashton’s desk a note in which she was 
asked to remain for a few minutes after the class 
was dismissed. 

Without a suspicion of what was in store for her 
she sat quietly in her seat until the room was empty 
and Professor Allvn came to her. 

He laid the bit of paper with the faint imprint 
of her brother’s name upon it before her, then placed 
the key beside it. 

“ That slip of paper I found in this book, during 
recess, after taking it from Miss Lawrence ; and there 
is but one inference to be drawn from the fact,” he 
said gravely; then went on to tell her of his conver- 
sation with Margaret and of her wish that Jo- 
sephine’s agency in the matter should not be made 
known to the class. 

u But,” he continued, “ Miss Lawrence must be 
exonerated. She is resting under a stigma in the 
estimation of the class and this must be removed at 
once. How, Josephine, what will you do about the 
matter ? ” 

The girl remained, after the first shock of sur- 
prise, sullenly silent while he was talking; but now, 


! 7 o STEP BY STEP 

at his appeal, she threw back her head with a 
haughtily defiant air. 

“ Nothing,” she said through her tightly-locked 
teeth. “ And no one can prove that I put that book 
in her desk.” 

“ I admit that no one saw you do it,” coldly re- 
joined her teacher, “ and possibly the evidence would 
not be sufficient to convict you before a judge and 
jury; but, taking all the circumstances into consid- 
eration, to me there is proof positive that you did so.” 

He paused a moment, then added with deep feel- 
ing: “ Josephine, don’t let this stain rest upon your 
conscience. You alone will be the sufferer if you re- 
fuse to right this wrong, and all your life you will 
regret it. This is all I have to say about the matter, 
except that in deference to Miss Lawrence’s request 
I shall call no names when I explain it to the class 
to-morrow morning. Here is your book,” he con- 
cluded, putting the bit of paper inside and pushing 
it toward her. 

“ It isn’t my book,” cried the girl, springing to her 
feet, her face aflame with passion, as she shoved the 
obnoxious key farther away. 

“ Pardon me ; I stand corrected. I will mail it to 
your brother,” said Professor Allyn with icy polite- 
ness as he made a move to recover it. 

With a look that would have annihilated him had 
it possessed the power, Josephine snatched it almost 
from his grasp and dashed blindly from the room. 

But she was promptly back in her seat the next 
morning, and, to all appearance, serenely unconscious 


STEP BY STEP 


1 7 1 

that anything of more than usual import was pend- 
ing, listening with stoical calmness while Professor 
Allyn briefly stated that the key found in Miss Law- 
rence’s desk the previous day did not belong to Mar- 
garet, and had never been used by her. This had been 
satisfactorily proven to him, but, for good and suffi- 
cient reasons, he should not discuss the matter further 
— it was to be dropped, but Miss Lawrence was fully 
exonerated and was to be so regarded by the class. 

After school was over Margaret was besieged by 
numerous questions regarding the affair, but to all 
she gave evasive answers, making light of it and 
saying that since she had been set right the sooner 
it was forgotten the better it would please her. 


1 7 2 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER XIII. 

Three weeks later Louis received a voluminous 
letter from Aunt Martha, a missive which he devoured 
with avidity, and which contained some very inter- 
esting news that both pleased and surprised him. 

First, Miss Wellington’s brother-in-law had mar- 
ried again — a kind, capable woman who would make 
a good mother to the children for whom Aunt Martha 
had been caring during the last live years; and she 
felt that she could resign her duties with the com- 
forting assurance that all would go well with them. 

Second, almost immediately following the wed- 
ding she had been engaged as attendant and com- 
panion to a lady who had recently come to Colorado 
for her health. The husband of her charge could 
not be with his wife much of the time, because of 
the demands of business, hence for some time he 
had been seeking a responsible person who would 
not only give her proper care, but who would also 
be congenial and make her enforced absence from 
home as pleasant as possible. 

“ They are wealthy people,” Miss Wellington 
wrote, “ and I find my position very agreeable since 
I have many privileges and luxuries such as I have 
never enjoyed before. The name of the family is 
Sherburne. They have a beautiful home in Chicago, 


STEP BY STEP 


1 73 


but seem to be very much alone in the world, having 
no children or relatives excepting Mrs. Sherburne’s 
only sister, who, strangely enough, lives in your 
town. Her name is Ashton, and she has a son and 
a daughter, Robert and Josephine — possibly you may 
know them. I have told Mrs. Sherburne something 
about ‘ my boy,’ and she has seemed interested in 
you, and has said ‘ when we go home he shall come 
to visit you ; ’ which has made me very happy, for I 
am yearning for one of our heart-to-heart talks, and 
I am sure I shall find that my Louis has tried faith- 
fully to live up to the standard we set ourselves in 
those old days in New Hampshire. Your letters 
tell me that, and so give me great joy.” 

There was much more, but the items recorded 
were especially interesting to Louis, who thought 
it very queer that Aunt Martha should have stepped 
right into a position with relatives of the Ashtons. 
He learned later that the Sherburnes used to come 
East every summer for a visit, but during the last 
five years Mrs. Sherburne had not been allowed by 
her physician to take the trip; instead she was or- 
dered farther West. 

Louis heard from his friend frequently after this 
change, for she had more time to herself and, as 
she was in a position where she saw more of life, 
her letters were full of interest, and contained much 
sound advice and loving counsel. Einally there 
came a missive telling him that Mrs. Sherburne 
“ was gone ” and that Miss Wentworth had, at Mr. 
Sherburne’s earnest request, come to Chicago to take 


STEP BY STEP 


l 74 

charge of his home; and as they were now so much 
nearer each other, there was a possibility that they 
might occasionally meet. 

So the weeks and months slipped away ; the Christ- 
mas holidays and vacation passed; Spring opened 
and the Easter recess came around, during which 
Nellie Evarts made a house party, inviting five of 
her girl friends to spend a week with her ; and Mar- 
garet Lawrence, who had become her dear “ familiar 
spirit,” was included among the number. 

Something delightful was planned for every day, 
and there was to be a grand finale or class reunion 
the last evening of their visit, when they were to 
have an orchestra for the dancing, refreshments 
served by a Boston caterer, and last, but by no means 
least, a grand display of brand-new party dresses. 

They were six merry maidens during that never- 
to-be-forgotten week. The Evartses lived in a fine 
spacious residence on the “ swell ” side of the river, 
and there was, at the top of the house, a great bil- 
liard-room which was the favorite resort of the 
sextet, for there they could get away from everyone 
else and chatter to their hearts’ content without fear 
of being overheard. There were horses and car- 
riages in the stable, and every fine morning the 
gay little party went spinning over the smooth 
country roads for a drive. There were also visits to 
various points of interest in and around Boston, in- 
terspersed with a couple of high-class matinees, which 
latter were an especial delight to all. 

One afternoon — it was like a summer day — 


STEP BY STEP 


l 75 


Nellie proposed a tramp to a certain pine grove 
about balf a mile from her home, and suggested that 
they take lunch baskets along and picnic in the woods. 
As Mrs. Evarts was very busy with preparations for 
the reunion, Nellie offered to take her two younger 
sisters with her and her friends, much to the joy 
of the little folks, and so made quite a party. The 
grove which they visited commanded a fine view 
of the river and the surrounding country. It also 
lay very near the railroad, and just at the foot of a 
rise of ground there was a grade-crossing which 
had recently been pronounced dangerous, and was, 
within a few weeks, to be raised to allow the trains 
to pass underneath and thus avert possible acci- 
dents. 

The afternoon passed very quickly and pleasantly, 
the children hunting for cones, mosses, and other 
woodland treasures, while the six girls discussed 
various interesting matters, prominent among which 
was the beginning of school the following week — 
their last term in “ dear old High ” — the approach- 
ing graduation and plans for the summer vacation, 
after which there would be a scattering to different 
colleges or finishing schools not yet decided upon. 

At half -past four lunch was served, and they were 
just in the midst of this when their attention was 
attracted by the clatter of horses’ hoofs, and pres- 
ently they saw Josephine Ashton’s pretty pony- team 
coming down the hill on the opposite side of the 
railway. 

She pulled up as she drew near the crossing which 


STEP BY STEP 


176 

ran so obliquely across the road as to make great 
care necessary in driving over it. 

Mr. Ashton had often cautioned his daughter to 
be watchful of such places or she would be liable to 
get into trouble, and usually she was very careful; 
but this time, for some reason, she failed to guide 
her team aright and trouble did come. 

The girls in the grove suddenly heard her cry out 
an imperative “ Whoa ! ” in a shrill voice of fear, 
whereupon her gentle ponies, trained to perfect 
obedience, came to. a stop almost instantly, but with 
the trap tilted to one side. Then they saw Josephine 
leap to her feet in the carriage and look anxiously 
up and down the road, as if searching for some one 
by the wayside to whom she could appeal for help. 

“ What can be the matter ? ” cried Nellie, rising 
from the log where she had been sitting, to get a 
better view. 

“ It looks to me as if one of the wheels was caught 
between a plank and the rail,” said Margaret, who 
had herself been well trained in the art of driving, 
once upon a time. 

“ Oh, that is a bad fix 1 Do you suppose we could 
help her out of it ? ” anxiously inquired Alice Well- 
man. 

“ No,” replied Margaret; “ it would take a strong 
man to lift that trap and release the wheel. If only 
a team would come along — or if there was a house 
near by where we could go for help ! But hark ! oh, 
girls! — isn’t that the five o’clock train up at the 
West station?” she concluded breathlessly, as a 


STEP BY STEP 


1 77 

sharp, shrill whistle, warning whoever it might con- 
cern to clear the track, fell on their ears. 

“ Yes, it is — it is! What will Josephine do?” 
panted Nellie excitedly, while Miss Ashton herself, 
having caught the appalling sound, fell to screaming 
for help at the top of her lungs and wringing her 
hands in the most frantic manner, for she well knew 
that if no one came to her assistance her lovely 
carriage would be dashed to pieces and her beautiful 
ponies killed, or frightened to death, before another 
five minutes elapsed. She did not even seem to 
have presence of mind enough to get out of the trap, 
and so was in imminent danger herself. 

“ Something must be done quickly l” Margaret 
exclaimed; and, springing to her feet, she darted 
out from the grove, speeding down toward the cross- 
ing as if those little members had been shod with 
wings. 

“ Get out ! ” she cried as she drew near the fright- 
ened girl. “ Get out of the trap, Miss Ashton, and 
take the reins with you ! 3 

This order was given because she saw the horses 
were becoming restless and nervous, and she feared 
they might start to run and so get beyond control. 

Josephine, brought somewhat to her senses by the 
sound of a human voice, instantly leaped to the 
ground, but heedlesly leaving the lines hanging over 
the dashboard. Margaret, however, who was now 
close upon the scene, seized and had them knotted 
in a trice, throwing them lightly over the ponies’ 
backs, speaking peremptorily yet reassuringly to the 


i 7 8 STEP BY STEP 

restive animals as she did so. Then she sprang for 
a tug. 

“ Come,” she called out anxiously to Josephine, 
“ you must help me — quick ! — unhitch those other 
traces ! — we must free the horses at once ! ” 

But the girl was absolutely helpless. She could 
hear the train steaming steadily toward them, al- 
though it was not yet in sight, and, almost frantic 
from terror, she was unable to do aught but wring 
her hands and sob that her ponies would be killed. 

But Margaret, with nimble fingers, soon had the 
harness released on her side, then darted like a flash 
to the other just as the locomotive rolled into view 
around a near-by curve in the road. 

How she accomplished the remainder of her task 
she never could tell afterward; it was all like an 
illusive dream to her as, the traces once free, she 
sprang to the horses’ heads, grasped their bridles 
firmly with one hand, freeing the neck yoke with a 
single sweep of the other, when, with a gently spoken 
command, she started them forward and led them 
safely out of harm’s way, at the same time cheerily 
encouraging and soothing them, but seeing, with 
quaking heart and failing vision, only that great, 
black, looming monster that was almost upon her. 

The next instant, in spite of the ringing in her 
ears, she heard a crash, then confused commands 
mingled with frightened voices and the shuffling of 
hurrying feet. And she knew the pretty trap had 
come to grief. 

The engineer had espied the danger ahead im- 


STEP BY STEP 


l 19 


mediately upon rounding the bend and instantly 
reversed his engine; thus, as he never ran at great 
speed between the East and the West stations — they 
being only a mile apart — the force of the collision 
was only sufficient to overturn the trap, wrenching 
off the imprisoned wheel and breaking the pole. 
Ho other damage was done save that of throwing 
the passengers into a temporary excitement and de- 
laying the train for a few minutes, while the acci- 
dent was investigated and the trainmen removed 
the obstacles from the track. 

Meantime, Josephine had thrown herself prone 
upon the ground by the roadside, thrust her fingers 
into her ears and buried her face in the grass, to 
shut out the sight and sound of what she believed 
would be a horrible tragedy. Here Hellie Evarts 
and her friends found her when they arrived upon 
the scene, and tried to calm and reassure her; but 
this was not an easy task, for she was completely 
unnerved and nearly crazed with fear. 

Among the passengers who alighted from the train 
to ascertain what had happened were two young 
men who had been to a neighboring town to witness 
a ball game. One of them, after ascertaining the 
cause of the delay, caught sight of Margaret, who 
was still caring for the ponies, and with a few flying 
leaps was beside her, an anxious look on his fine 
face as he began to comprehend something of the 
situation and the part she had borne in it. 

The girl was almost spent from her heroic efforts, 
now that all danger was past, and was beginning 


i8o 


STEP BY STEP 


to feel that her strength would not endure the strain 
much longer, when she suddenly felt a firm hand 
laid upon the bridle above each of her own, while 
a familiar voice observed, with calm assurance: 

“It is all right, Miss Lawrence. I have them 
well in hand now,” and she lifted her drooping head 
to find herself looking into the clear, earnest, brown 
eyes of Louis Arnold. 

“ Oh ! how glad I am ! It seemed as if I could 
not hold them a moment longer,” she breathed in 
a weak voice, while he could see that she was trem- 
bling from head to foot. 

“ Well, then, you may let go now,” he said, smil- 
ing archly down upon her, for she still unconsciously 
retained an almost convulsive grasp upon the bridles. 

She gave a little nervous laugh, and her arms 
dropped limply by her side. 

“ Oh, it was frightful ! ” she said, with a deeply 
drawn sigh. “ I thought I never would get the 
ponies free from the trap — it would have been 
dreadful if they had been killed or hopelessly 
maimed.” 

“ How about yourself % What if you had been 
killed or maimed % ” Louis questioned rather shortly, 
as he led the horses to a near-by tree where he fastened 
them securely. 

And Margaret laughed as she saw his point. 

“ I don’t think that occurred to me,” she said. 

“ It is Josephine Ashton’s team, isn’t it ? ” Louis 
inquired, while he searched her still white face 
solicitously. 


STEP BY STEP 


181 

“ Yes, and I hope that pretty trap is not very 
badly smashed,” Margaret observed, glancing over 
her shoulder at the wreck, and beginning to feel a 
little more like herself. 

“ I don’t know whether it is or not,” Louis re- 
joined somewhat indifferently. “ That didn’t in- 
terest me at all after I caught sight of you and 
comprehended what you had done. How did you 
know what to do to free the horses \ ” 

“ Oh, I used to have a pony and a dogcart when 
papa was here, and sometimes I helped the man 
harness just for fun. Besides, I’ve often watched 
him take the pair out,” Margaret explained. 

“ Well, it was a big thing for you to do under 
the circumstances; and it was a very narrow escape 
for you as well as for the horses,” Louis observed 
with clouded eyes. “ Do you feel all right now ? ” 
he added with evident concern. 

“ Oh, yes ; only I can’t keep quite still yet,” she 
said, holding out a hand that was far from steady. 
“ But,” she added naively, “ the moment I heard 
your voice I felt as if everything would be all 
right.” 

Louis colored slightly at this, then smiled his 
pleasure as he said softly : “ Thank you, Margaret.” 

“ I wonder where Miss Ashton is,” she presently 
observed ; “ suppose we look for her 2 ” 

They walked slowly back over the crossing to- 
gether — the train having gone on — and soon came 
upon Hellie and her party gathered in friendly con- 
cern around Josephine, who was now sitting up, sup- 


182 


STEP BY STEP 


ported by one of the girls, but still weeping nerv- 
ously. 

“Was she hurt?” Margaret inquired of one of 
her friends. 

“ ]STo, only terribly frightened and shocked,” was 
the reply. 

“ Well, it was enough to frighten anybody,” said 
Margaret sympathetically ; “ but, Miss Ashton ” — 
approaching the sobbing girl — “the ponies are all 
right. They haven’t even a scratch. I am sorry 
about the carriage, though,” she added regretfully. 
“ I wish that might have escaped, too — it was such 
a pretty trap ; but perhaps it can be easily repaired,” 
she concluded hopefully. 

As she ceased speaking Josephine glanced up at 
her, gave her one swift, indescribable look, then fell 
to crying harder than ever, and Margaret, with a 
pained expression on her lovely face, slipped away 
and returned to the grove to gather up the fragments 
of the interrupted lunch and repack the baskets pre- 
paratory to going home. 

Louis Arnold, with a look of lofty scorn in his 
fine eyes, and curling his lips, followed, deftly as- 
sisting her, after which he quietly took possession 
of the receptacles, saying he would be burden-bearer 
for the party on their return to town. 

Meantime a carriage had come along, the owner 
of which, after learning of the accident, offered to 
take Miss Ashton and her ponies home — a kindness 
which the girl eagerly accepted. 


STEP BY STEP 


183 

The ponies were fastened to the back of the vehicle, 
while Josephine was assisted into it, and, as they 
drove away, the curious spectators dispersed, leaving 
the place deserted, nothing save the shattered trap 
remaining to tell the story of the recent mishap. 


184 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER XIY. 

During the evening of the same day on which the 
accident to Josephine Ashton’s carriage occurred, 
Mr. and Mrs. Ashton drove over to the home of 
the Evarts to call upon Margaret and to express 
their gratitude to her for the heroism she had mani- 
fested in rescuing their daughter’s ponies and, as 
they believed, for saving her own life also. 

Evidently Josephine had given them a detailed 
account of what had happened, while they had also 
heard much from other sources, for news of the in- 
cident had spread like wildfire and was being talked 
over everywhere in the town; thus they seemed to 
fully realize their obligation to Margaret. 

So much was said during their call in praise of 
what she had done that Margaret was beginning to 
feel greatly embarrassed and to wish that she might 
make her escape from the company, when Hellie’s 
youngest sister, who, with wide eyes and eager ears, 
had been taking it all in, piped up in her shrill, pen- 
etrating little voice : “ I guess, Miss Lawrence, you 
must be a — a heroess now.” 

This naive observation and the general laugh that 
followed turned attention from Margaret to the 
smaller maiden, who was asked to define a 
“ heroess,” and after this the conversation gradu- 


STEP BY STEP 185 

ally became more general and the modest heroine 
was allowed to rest upon her laurels. 

This was on Saturday. On Sunday morning just 
before church time there came a box of beautiful 
roses and a basket of luscious fruit for Miss Law- 
rence, and these were accompanied by a kind note 
from Mrs. Ashton; but not one word from Joseph- 
ine. 

Mrs* Ashton wrote that her daughter was not feel- 
ing well and was keeping her room; hence she was 
writing to inquire if Margaret had experienced any 
ill effects from the previous day’s excitement. She 
hoped Josephine would be better to-morrow and 
able to come to thank her in person, but the girl 
seemed prostrated and might even be obliged to miss 
the class reunion on Tuesday evening. Would Mar- 
garet please drop her a line to assure her that she 
was all right? 

“ Well, I just hope that Josephine Ashton wont 
come to my party,” Nellie spiritedly asserted when 
Margaret showed her this note. u I should think she 
would be ashamed of herself not to send you just 
a word of acknowledgment, even if she is sick in 
bed. I don’t understand it I ” 

Margaret made no reply to this indignant out- 
burst. She thought she understood Josephine’s 
silence, and she secretly admitted that she herself 
would better enjoy the prospective festivities if she 
remained away. Monday passed and still she heard 
nothing from her classmate, and finally concluded 
that, since what had occurred on Saturday had no 


86 


STEP BY STEP 


power to move her, the old feud would never be 
settled — they would never be friends. 

Tuesday dawned a perfect day, and at an early 
hour the Evarts mansion and surrounding grounds 
began to be the scene of considerable bustle and ex- 
citement. 

The broad verandas on two sides of the house 
were enclosed with canvas and decorated with ever- 
greens and beautiful Chinese lanterns, which were 
also profusely festooned among the trees on the lawn. 
There were flowers and potted plants everywhere 
about the house where space could be found for 
them. The alcove under the great stairway in the 
hall was screened with laurel to conceal the orchestra 
which was to discourse sweet music throughout the 
evening, while the spacious double parlors had been 
cleared, the costly rugs taken up, and the floors 
waxed for dancing. 

Everybody was busy, and everybody was happy, 
“ from early morn till dewy eve,” as they shared 
in these delightful preparations. 

Nellie and Margaret occupied the same room, and 
when they finally went upstairs to don their pretty 
dresses, it was with a satisfied feeling that every 
room, nook, and corner were in perfect order and 
as beautiful as good taste, the united efforts of pro- 
fessional decorators and many helpers, together with 
a lavish expenditure of money by an indulgent 
father and hospitable host, could make them. 

In the midst of the delightful occupation of dress- 
ing there came a rap on the girls’ door. 


STEP BY STEP 


187 

“ A package for Miss Lawrence,” said the maid, 
who passed in what looked like a small box in an im- 
maculate wrapper tied with white satin ribbon. 

“ What can it be % ” cried Nellie, dancing across 
the room with it and waiting, all on the qui vive, 
to see it opened. 

Margaret, no less curious, hurriedly undid it, 
lifted the lid of the box to find, reposing on a bed 
of pale pink cotton, an exquisite gold locket, set with 
pearls, attached to a no less lovely chain. 

On the back of the locket a monogram, com- 
prised of Margaret’s initials, had been engraved, 
while within it there were places for the portraits 
of two people. 

“ How perfectly beautiful ! ” exclaimed Nellie. 
“ Who could have sent it ? — your brother ? ” 

Margaret smiled a trifle sadly and shook her head. 

“ No, it could not have been Ted,” she said, well 
knowing that the dear hard-working fellow could 
barely afford a suitable necktie for the occasion, let 
alone costly lockets set with pearls. 

Presently she espied an envelope snugly tucked 
in between the cotton and one side of the box. 

Drawing forth a delicately perfumed sheet from 
the enclosure she read the following: 

Dear Miss Margaret: Please accept and wear 
to-night the accompanying testimonial to a brave girl 
— the united offering of my husband and myself. 

Sincerely your friend, 

Harriet A. Ashton. 


i88 


STEP BY STEP 


The happy light suddenly died out of Margaret’s 
eyes; the smiles faded from her lips; a burning 
flush swept over her face as she finished reading this 
note. 

All this from Mr. and Mrs. Ashton and still not 
one word from Josephine! How could she wear the 
lovely trinket that night? It would be a continual 
reminder of the enmity of her classmate and spoil 
all her pleasure. She would have been far happier 
to have won the friendship of, and been at peace with, 
Josephine than to have had a hundred lockets and a 
deluge of pearls showered upon her. 

With a regretful sigh she quietly laid the gift 
upon her dressing-table and went on with her toilet ; 
while Nellie, reading something of what was in her 
mind, turned away with a frown upon her own brow, 
to look for a ribbon that she wanted. 

Presently there came another tap .and two huge, 
suggestive-looking boxes, one for “ Miss Nellie 
Evarts,” the other for “ Miss Margaret Lawrence,” 
were deposited inside the room. 

Both contained long-stemmed roses — Nellie’s 
crimson, Margaret’s pink. The former was accom- 
panied by a card bearing: “ With compliments of 
Charles N. Osgood.” The latter was the offering of 
“ Louis Arnold.” 

This interruption changed the atmosphere and 
both girls began to dimple and bubble over again. 

“ My ! I begin to feel like a regularly grown-up 
young lady about to make my debut” cried merry 
Nell, holding her fragrant blossoms off at arm’s 


STEP BY STEP 


189 

length in mingled admiration and delight. “ Aren’t 
they beauties ? and ” — with a ripple of amusement — 
“ can’t you just see, in your mind’s eye, those two 
boys bashfully marching up to Irving’s counter to 
give their order ? ” 

“ Well, they certainly have shown good taste and 
been very generous in their offerings,” said Margaret 
with a responsive laugh, yet flushing consciously as 
she bent to inhale the perfume of her roses. 

“ Somebody thinks you are pretty fine — eh, Mar- 
garet ? ” roguishly observed Nellie, as she noticed 
her rising color. 

“ Well, I know some one who thinks Charlie Os- 
good is rather above the average,” Margaret retorted 
to cover her embarrassment. 

“ Who could help it, dearie ? — such a nice boy ” 
was the demure reply; then, as their eyes met in a 
conscious glance, there was another burst of silvery, 
girlish laughter, whereupon both resumed their in- 
terrupted dressing. 

They looked very fair and sweet when they went 
below to join their other friends and receive their 
classmates; but Mrs. Ashton’s lovely gift to Mar- 
garet still lay unheeded in its box, upstairs on the 
dressing-table. 

The guests soon began to pour in and the rooms 
were quickly filled. There were about seventy-five 
people present, including many of the parents of 
the seniors. Nellie, in looking them over, found that 
every one of her classmates had honored her invita- 
tion save Josephine Ashton. She was wounded, yet 


STEP BY STEP 


190 

at the same time she was relieved, for she had spir- 
itedly resented what she called her “ shabby treat- 
ment ” of Margaret. 

A few moments before the time for refreshments 
to be served, Margaret slipped upstairs to get a hand- 
kerchief, having dropped the one she had taken down 
with her and been unable to find it; and as she was 
about to enter her room, she saw through the half- 
open door a tall, slim figure standing by her dressing- 
table in a drooping attitude. 

The figure turned, as she pushed the door wider 
and entered, and she found herself face to face with 
Josephine Ashton! 

The girl was dressed in white and much more 
simply than usual; but Margaret thought she had 
never seen her look so lovely before. 

She colored crimson as she met Margaret’s glance 
of astonishment; then her eyes dropped to an en- 
velope she was holding in one hand, and, for a 
moment, she seemed uncertain what to do. 

The next, she threw back her proud head with a 
resolute air, and, going to Margaret’s side, drew her 
gently within the room and shut the door. 

“ I know I am intruding and you must think it 
strange to find me here,” she said, speaking with an 
effort, “ but a servant told me this was your room 
and I came in to leave this letter for you ” — touch- 
ing the envelope with one white-gloved finger. 

“ You do not intrude,” Margaret gently returned, 
but with quickened heart beats ; “ the guests have 
the freedom of the whole house to-night.” 


STEP BY STEP 


i 9 i 


Again Josephine stood irresolute for an instant; 
then suddenly tossing the envelope upon the dress- 
ing-table, she swept close up to Margaret, laid her 
hands upon her shoulders and looked frankly down 
into her sweet, wondering blue eyes. 

“ Margaret Lawrence,” she began in tremulous 
tones, “ I am going to tell you about it. I wrote 
that letter because I was a coward and thought I 
hadn’t the courage to face you. It is a confession of 
all the meanness, the folly, and the jealousy I have 
been guilty of toward you since you came into our 
class; and also of the wretchedness I have suffered 
in consequence. I will leave it because I can’t re- 
hearse it all again — I should forget half I ought to 
say. But I am very glad I have met you here alone, 
for now I need not wait to know if you can ever 
forgive ” 

Before she could complete the sentence Margaret 
had slipped her arms around the girl’s waist and 
drawn her into a close embrace. 

“ Oh, J osephine ! ” she breathed, her eyes glisten- 
ing with inward joy — “ if you could only know how 
I have longed to have you for my friend! Let all 

the past go — you do not need to say ‘ forgive ’ ” 

“ Indeed I do if I care anything about regaining 
my self-respect,” Josephine huskily interposed ; “ so 
tell me — can you ? will you ? ” 

“ Of course I will, and ” 

“ But I have used you shockingly, Margaret.” 

“ Let us forget it, please.” 

“ I did put that key in your desk.” 


STEP BY STEP 


\gl 

“ Yes, I know ; but- 
“ And I have been furiously jealous of you,” Jo- 
sephine went on, as if determined not to be forgiven 
until she had uncovered everything. “ I am two 
years older than you, and it has galled me more than 
I can tell you to have you lead the class.” 

u But I had to do as well as I could, Josephine,” 
said Margaret apologetically. 

“ You dear little saint ! you don’t need to apolo- 
gize for doing your level best. I am only trying to 
show you how very bad I have been,” rejoined the 
penitent girl, with a catch in her breath that was 
between a laugh and a sob. “ But tell me — why 
wouldn’t you let Professor Allyn reveal to the class 
the name of the one who put the key in your desk ? ” 
“ I couldn’t — that would have been dreadful ; and 
I knew it would only have made matters worse be- 
tween us.” 

“ There are precious few people who would have 
cared anything about that. Oh, Margaret ! ” — and 
she was almost weeping now — “ I don’t know what 
to say to you! I have cried myself almost sick 
over it many a time; yet I have been too obstinate 
and too much of a coward to confess the wrong. 

But the other day you had your revenge ” 

“ Dear, I never had any desire to be revenged,” 
interposed Margaret — “ at least, after the first flash 
of temper was over,” she conscientiously added. 

“ I know it, and that has made my own position 
all the more galling. Did you think it was all fright 
and grief over my broken trap that upset me so 


STEP BY STEP 


*93 


last Saturday ? ” questioned Josephine sadly. “ No, 
indeed; I was shamed, humiliated, broken-hearted, 
because I saw myself ^s I knew others must see me 
— a proud, selfish, arrogant girl, who, because of 
overindulgence at home, had grown to think that 
every one else must bow before her. But the scales 
fell from my eyes after that accident. There is no 
knowing what would have happened to me if you had 
not come to the rescue as you did; for I was para- 
lyzed with fear. I absolutely could not move until 
you spoke to me, and then my only thought was to 
save myself ; while you, utterly regardless of your 
own safety, never faltered until you had saved my 
ponies and — that locomotive had almost run you 
down. Ugh ! it was horrible ! ” and she shivered 
nervously as she recalled the tragic experience. 

u Then, when you came to tell me that the ponies 
hadn’t even a scratch,” she presently resumed, “ and 
said how sorry you were that you could not have 
saved the trap also — that was the last straw. I have 
been sick in bed ever since — not from the shock, but 
because I hated myself and believed that you, Profes- 
sor Allyn, and I don’t know how many more must 
feel just the same toward me.” 

“ No — no,” Margaret began, but Josephine, giv- 
ing her a little pat on the shoulder, went right on : 

66 1 thought at first that I could not come to Nel- 
lie’s party to-night. I could not endure to meet you. 
Then something told me to write to you — to make 
that a beginning toward something better in life, 
toward your standard — -yours and Louis Arnold’s,” 


194 


STEP BY STEP 


she interpolated, with a rising flush. “ I have al- 
ways admired him, ever since he entered the school, 
for nothing could ever tempt him to do a wrong 
or mean thing. He never would toady to any one 
either, but treated all alike, going straight ahead 
about his business, seeming to know just what was 
right to do and — doing it. You and he seem to be 
very much alike in that respect, and I suspect that 
is why he admires you so.” 

She bestowed a searching glance upon Margaret 
as she made the last observation and smiled slightly 
to see how the prettily fringed lids drooped suddenly 
over Margaret’s eyes and the delicate pink deepened 
in her cheeks. 

“ So I wrote my letter,” she continued, “ and 
made up my mind to come here and leave it for 
you, tender my greetings to Mrs. Ashton and Nellie, 
out of respect for their invitation, then quietly slip 
away again with papa and mamma, who can only re- 
main a little while because of another engagement. 
I told mamma the whole story while I was dressing, 
and she was so shocked. She said she never would 
have presumed to offer you a gift if she had known 
how badly I had used you, for it must seem almost 
an insult to you under the circumstances ” 

“ It was very kind of her — the locket and chain 
are beautiful,” interposed Margaret with some em- 
barrassment, and wishing now that she had them on. 

Josephine smiled again. She had observed their 
absence and understood why they had not graced the 
occasion. 


STEP BY STEP 


195 


“ But she was very nice to me,” she went on, not 
appearing to heed Margaret’s remark. “ We had a 
lovely talk about it, and I think we shall always feel 
nearer each other because of it. And now I believe 
that is all I want to say to-night — are you sure you 
absolve me ? ” she concluded with brimming eyes. 

“ With all my heart, Josephine,” was the earnest 
response. 

“ Then I am very glad I have seen you instead of 
waiting for you to read and reply to my letter. But 
I am keeping you a long time from the company 
downstairs.” 

“ I do not mind, for I am happier than I can 
express to have the barriers between us broken down, 
and to know that, after this, we shall be friends,” 
and Margaret’s eyes now overflowed. 

Josephine gently drew her toward her dressing- 
table. 

“ Then will you wear mamma’s gift ?” she pleaded. 
“ I know it would please her to see you wearing it — 
may I fasten it around your neck ? ” f 

“ Yes, indeed — please do,” said Margaret eagerly, 
and suddenly experiencing great delight in her new 
possession. “ It is the prettiest locket I ever saw, 
and I shall always love it — now.” 

Josephine had it fastened in place almost before 
she ceased speaking; then bending down she kissed 
the girl softly on her lips, while both felt as if a seal 
had been set upon a life-long friendship. 

“ How, come,” said Margaret, her face glowing 
w£th love and happiness, 'as she linked her arm 


STEP BY STEP 


196 

within her companion’s ; “ let us go down and I will 
introduce you to mamma and Ted — my brother.” 

Josephine shot a startled glance at her. 

“ What must they think of me ? ” she questioned 
dubiously. 

“ They do not know.” 

“ Margaret ! have you never told them ? ” 

“ No , because I kept hoping that everything 
would come right ; and if it did, I knew I should be 
sorry I had said anything about it.” 

Josephine could say nothing at this evidence of 
such sweet charity; she could only give the arm 
resting within hers an appreciative pressure, and then 
they went downstairs together. 

Charlie Osgood saw them as they entered the 
drawing-room arm in arm, and his astonishment 
nearly caused him to upset a costly jardiniere on the 
table beside him. He knew Josephine had always 
openly snubbed Margaret, and he also had his sus- 
picions that she had put the key into the latter’s desk, 
although, notwithstanding their intimacy, Louis had 
never hinted anything of the kind to him. 

“ Peter Piper!” he ejaculated under his breath. 
“ I really believe that her imperial majesty has struck 
her colors at last! and if she has she means it for 
keeps.” 

Louis also observed their entrance, yet made no 
sign of surprise ; but the look in his fine eyes, as they 
rested upon Margaret, plainly indicated his appre- 
ciation of that which, in her, had at last conquered 


STEP BY STEP 


197 

this proud spirit, winning her allegiance as she won 
all others.” 

After Josephine had greeted Mrs. Ashton and 
Nellie, Margaret led her directly to her mother and 
her handsome brother, who was soon to graduate from 
Harvard, introducing them to her, and then left her 
to chat with the latter, who, when the signal for re- 
freshments was given, asked the privilege of supply- 
ing her needs. 

Louis promptly presented himself at Margaret’s 
side, and Charlie appropriating Nellie, they all went 
to the table together, the utmost cordiality prevailing 
among the sextette. Margaret’s attitude toward Jo- 
sephine having given them the cue, all tacitly and 
heartily accepted her friend as theirs. 

How trivial a thing oft makes our friend a foe ; 

But how sublime it is to make a foe our friend. 

The house party broke up the next day, each and 
all declaring the week of their sojourn with Nellie 
to have been “ the loveliest time of their lives.” 

Monday morning following found the seniors all 
back in their places at school, eager to begin on the 
last term of their last year at “ High.” 

Just before the lessons were taken up Josephine 
Ashton arose from her seat, an unwonted humility 
in her bearing. “ Professor Allyn, may I say a few 
words to the class ? ” she inquired. 

The professor looked surprised for the moment, 
then his face suddenly grew luminous. Instinc- 
tively he knew what was coming. 


STEP BY STEP 


198 

“ Certainly, Miss Ashton,” he cordially replied. 

“ A few months ago,” Josephine resumed, but with 
lips that were absolutely colorless, “ Miss Lawrence 
was arraigned before this class upon the supposition 
that she had been using a key to our algebra — one 
having been found in her desk. She was afterwards 
practically vindicated, but no proof of her innocence 
was given at that time. Actuated by unworthy mo- 
tives I put the book in her desk. She has forgiven 
me. May I ask our principal and the class to be 
no less kind ? ” 

There was a moment of oppressive silence after the 
trembling girl sank into her seat. Then Louis Ar- 
nold’s hands came together with a resounding clap. 

It was the signal for a rousing applause which 
attested the hearty appreciation of the entire class, 
in view of the moral courage which had prompted 
Miss Ashton to assume the blame that belonged to 
her, and thus fully exonerate Miss Lawrence. 

Einally Professor Allyn arose and rapped for 
order. He was deeply moved. 

“ It seems almost superfluous for me to add any- 
thing to the expression of approbation and good-will 
so cordially and unanimously manifested by the 
class, and which shows me that you all honor one who 
has the courage of her convictions.” He paused a 
moment, then resumed : “ It is a noble stand that 
Miss Ashton has taken this morning, to thus publicly 
give us incontrovertible proof of the innocence of 
her friend, and in so doing she has also exonerated 
every other member of the class ; for, of course, there 


STEP BY STEP 


199 


has been some doubt in the minds of all regarding 
who bad thrown suspicion upon Miss Lawrence. 
This class will soon go out from me, some to pursue 
a higher course, others to take their places in the 
world; and, while my interest always follows my 
pupils in their chosen walks of life, I wish to say 
that every one of you will carry with you a larger 
share of my esteem because of the keen sense of 
what is just and honorable that you have shown to- 
day. You may now take your hooks.” 

The weeks sped by, June came, the examinations 
were passed, the class was graduated and its work 
in “ dear old High ” became a thing of the past. 

Margaret led her class to the last, although Jose- 
phine followed a close second, while the bond of 
friendship recently established between them only 
grew stronger as the race went on. Before vacation 
was over Josephine had been admitted to Vassar, 
Margaret and Hellie were booked for Smith’s Col- 
lege at Horthampeon, and Arnold and Osgood, having 
successfully weathered the trying preliminaries, had 
become Harvard freshmen. 


200 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER XV 

The four years which Arnold and Osgood spent 
together as chums at Harvard were filled with hard, 
grinding work ; this, however, was interspersed with 
much that was enjoyable and also with many other 
checkered experiences that appertain to the life of a 
college student. 

Both were genial, manly, all-around fellows, and 
they could not fail to make many friends from the 
start. Still, they were there for honest work, with 
the determination to make the utmost of their oppor- 
tunity; and while they did not ostensibly eschew all 
fun and frolic, they preserved a happy medium, 
sharing heartily in such legitimate recreations as 
they had time for, but, steadfastly keeping in view 
the goal they were striving to attain, firmly resisted 
any temptations that would encroach upon time that 
should be devoted to their studies. 

During this period too Louis’ high moral standard 
was never lowered; in everything he undertook he 
was governed by principle, and honesty, sincerity 
and thoroughness were the watchwords which he in- 
flexibly obeyed in all his work and social relations; 
and thus throughout his whole course he gained and 
preserved the high esteem of both professors and 
classmates. 


STEP BY STEP 


201 


Mr. Richards was justly proud of his ward when, 
on the final commencement day, after the exercises 
were over and the clerk of the board of trustees arose 
to announce the prizes, he learned that Louis had 
won an important fellowship; while Farmer Weston 
and his wife could not have experienced more joy 
if the boy had been their own son. Osgood also came 
in for his share in the prize list and stood high in 
all his work, much to the gratification of his own 
family. 

But when it was all over, in spite of the pleasur- 
able excitement and triumphs of the day, when the 
last songs had been sung on the campus, when hand 
had gripped hand in final farewells and the class had 
melted away one by one, there were many sad hearts 
that pursued their homeward way, wondering, with 
an added pang, if they would ever meet in those dear 
familiar haunts again. 

A few days later Mr. Richards asked Louis if he 
had made up his mind what profession or fMe of 
business he would prefer to follow. The young man 
replied that he felt it would take too long to prepare 
for a profession — he was eager to be doing something 
for himself, and thought he would like a commercial 
life as well as anything and did not care how soon 
he started in upon it. 

“ Then suppose, when Mrs. Richards and I return 
to Chicago, you go home with us, and I will see 
what I can do for you ? ” was the proposition his 
guardian made to him, and Louis readily fell in 
with it — all the more eagerly because the arrange- 


202 


STEP BY STEP 


ment would again put him in close proximity with 
his old friend Miss Wellington, as well as give him 
a wider field to work in. 

The three girl friends who had been classmates 
with Arnold and Osgood in high school had also 
finished their course in college. Nellie Evarts was 
to sail for Europe in September and, with her par- 
ents, spend a year traveling abroad. Margaret Law- 
rence had arranged to return to Smith College as a 
teacher, to fill the vacancy of one who had married ; 
and she felt justly proud to have been chosen for the 
position. 

To Josephine Ashton there had come great changes 
during these four years. She lost her mother during 
her second year in college, and her father had fol- 
lowed while she was at home on her last vacation, 
after which sad event it was discovered that his 
affairs were seriously involved and that the supposed 
heiress would be reduced to the necessity of earning 
her own living in the future; for, when everything 
was settled, only a few paltry hundreds remained — 
barely enough to defray the expenses of her last year 
at Vassar. But, even though this would leave her 
almost penniless, she decided to return, for then she 
would be better fitted to face the world. In this de- 
cision she was seconded by her guardian, Mr. John 
Sherburne of Chicago, whom Mr. Ashton had ap- 
pointed as such, and also as the executor of his will. 

Mrs. Sherburne had been the only sister of Mrs. 
Ashton, and both she and her husband had been very 
fond of Josephine from her childhood, hence Mr. 


STEP BY STEP 


203 


Ashton’s confidence in the man. Josephine’s brother, 
Robert, had been much of a rover since leaving col- 
lege, and was now supposed to be somewhere in 
South America. 

During the four years the friendship between 
Margaret and Josephine had continually strength- 
ened. They had corresponded regularly and had 
also seen much of each other during their vacations; 
while Margaret’s brother, Theodore, had continued 
to evince a preference for Miss Ashton’s society from 
the time of their introduction on the night of Nellie 
Evarts’ party. Josephine, however, had been learn- 
ing to care more and more for Louis, who when at 
home was made to feel that he was always a welcome 
guest at the Ashton’s and was invariably the first to 
receive an invitation to their social functions. 

Louis was not unmindful of this growing regard, 
but, while he was in college and until he knew defi- 
nitely what his future was to be, he would not permit 
himself to manifest any preference, always dividing 
his time and attentions about equally between the 
three girls. Nevertheless there was always a brighter 
light in his eyes and a repressed eagerness in his man- 
ner whenever Margaret fell to his lot; and down in 
the depths of his heart he knew that no other would 
ever be so dear to him. 

Upon their first meeting at the county fair he had 
thought her the most beautiful child he had ever seen ; 
he had begun to love her then because she had been 
so kindly thoughtful of him — even to the spending 
of some of her pin-money for him. And at that time 


204 


STEP BY STEP 


lie liad felt that Ted must be about the happiest boy 
in the world to have such a sweet little sister. Then 
the finding of her ring seemed to establish a 
peculiar bond between them. Afterward when they 
had met at school and he had championed her cause 
— a little secret between them resulting from it — he 
began to have a sort of sense of proprietorship in her ; 
and this feeling had continued to grow with the years 
that followed. 

There had been times during his college life when 
he had strongly yearned for some expression of her 
sentiments toward him, but he resolutely adhered to 
his determination to make no advances until he at- 
tained a position worthy of her acceptance; hence 
his eagerness to get into business and his decision 
to go to Chicago with the Kichardses when their 
summer outing was over. 

Upon his arrival there he made it his first duty, 
as it also was his pleasure, to pay a visit to Aunt 
Martha. 

Miss Wellington still retained her position as 
housekeeper for Mr. John Sherburne, which virtu- 
ally meant that she was lady of the house, with 
plenty of help to command, presiding at his table, 
entertaining his friends, etc., and, as these duties 
necessitated considerable care regarding her personal 
appearance, Louis found that she had blossomed out 
into quite a genteel, stylish lady — in fact he thought 
her downright handsome in her soft black silks with 
rich creamy laces at her neck and wrists, and her 
still abundant hair becomingly arranged. 


STEP BY STEP 


2°5 


Miss Wellington, on her part, experienced no less 
pride and satisfaction in the manly, cultured fellow 
whose character she had so conscientiously tried to 
mould in his boyhood ; and who, as he now stood be- 
fore her with his clear, frank eyes and earnest face, 
seemed the embodiment of all that was noble and 
true and morally clean. 

Previous to this, however, she had made a very 
curious discovery — one which she was sure was in 
some way connected with Louis. Yet she had never 
written him anything about it because, after learn- 
ing that he was coming to Chicago to live, she thought 
the story could be much more easily told than written. 

Mr. Sherburne never gave himself any concern 
about his household affairs — always leaving every- 
thing to his housekeeper and the servants; and he 
never could endure the slightest confusion in his 
home. 

Whenever house-cleaning time came around he 
would invariably vanish for a week, telling Miss 
Wellington that she might consider herself the mon- 
arch of all she surveyed during his absence, with one 
exception — his library must remain untouched; and 
he never would consent to have it thoroughly cleaned, 
much to the annoyance of the good woman, who in- 
sisted that every other nook and corner of her 
domain be kept in the most immaculate condition. 
Now and then, upon her insistence, he would allow 
the rugs to be taken up and cleansed and the floors 
done over; but his books and papers must never be 
touched. During all the years she had lived there 


206 


STEP BY STEP 


not a volume iiad been rejnoved from its place, except 
as be bad wanted to use it, and tbe thought of the 
dust which must have collected in and around them 
was revolting to her rigid ideas regarding cleanliness. 

But, this summer, the man had suddenly taken a 
whim to have the room repapered and completely 
renovated ; and now Miss Wellington found she had 
need of all her patience and tact, for he asserted that 
everything must be done under his own personal 
supervision, all books taken down in their order and 
placed in certain places and tiers to insure their 
being returned to their proper shelves after the cases 
were done over. 

It was while they were thus engaged that Miss 
Wellington came upon a small package, wrapped in 
brown paper, and which had evidently been carelessly 
shut away in a book and forgotten. 

It was while dusting this volume that its contents 
came to light and she observed that a faded blue rib- 
bon was loosely wound around the paper, but was not 
tied. 

“ Is this of any special value, Mr. Sherburne ? ” 
she inquired as she held it up before him. 

“ What is it ? ” he queried, extending his hand 
for it. 

But he took it from her heedlessly, whereupon the 
ribbon came off, the paper loosened, and the con- 
tents slipped to the floor, leaving the wrapper in his 
grasp. 

The contents consisted of five photographs. 

Miss Wellington stooped quickly to recover them, 


STEP BY STEP 


207 

and as she did so a shock went quivering through 
her from head to foot. 

She had instantly recognized three of those photo- 
graphs. They were Louis Arnold’s father and 
mother and a likeness of himself taken when he was 
an infant. The other two faces she had never seen. 

Martha Wellington was naturally a very self- 
contained woman, else she might have betrayed her 
recognition of these faces in her surprise; but she 
gathered them up with apparent calmness, observing, 
while doing so, this inscription written on the back 
of one of the cards: 

Captain John Sherburne, 

Of Her Majesty’s Fifty-seventh. 

Her eyes swept the face of her companion with keen- 
est scrutiny as she laid the pictures in his hand, and 
saw, as he ran them over, that he suddenly flushed a 
startled crimson, then turned a sickly white. 

“ Aha ! some family photographs ! ” he remarked, 
after a moment of hesitancy, during which he made 
a mighty effort to regain his self -poise; for he had 
become aware of a peculiar expression on the face of 
his housekeeper, whose grave eyes were keenly search- 
ing his own. Then, as a guilty conscience almost 
always overreaches itself, he held the picture of the 
English captain off at arm’s-length and added, with 
a forced smile: 

“ My father, Miss Wellington — he didn’t make 
a bad-looking soldier, did he ? There isn’t much re- 
semblance between us, however, even though I bear 


208 STEP BY STEP 

his name. I have wondered what had become of 
these pictures.” 

Then hastily shuffling them together, he folded the 
wrapper about them, winding the string around the 
package, and tossed it carelessly upon his desk. 

Miss Wellington made no reply, but turned back 
to her work, her head in a whirl. 

What did it mean? She knew she had not been 
mistaken, for she would have recognized the faces of 
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold anywhere ; and Louis — she had 
held him in her arms many a time when he was a 
baby in long clothes. But how came John Sher- 
burne by them ? and he had claimed them as family 
photographs! Could it be possible that he was a 
relative of Louis’ father or mother ? 

Still he had acted strangely the moment he saw 
them. He had been startled; there had been a sug- 
gestion of fear and guilt in his manner as if there 
were something connected with the pictures that he 
was afraid to have known. 

But for that she might have betrayed her recog- 
nition of them, for it had almost been on her lips to 
utter their names when she had caught his start and 
saw him change color. It was very mysterious, and 
the incident kept recurring to her mind throughout 
the day. 

Late in the afternoon, after going through his desk 
and a cabinet, weeding them out, and putting what 
he rejected into a box, he told her to have William 
take the rubbish out in the morning and consign it 
to the waste-barrel. 


STEP BY STEP 


209 


But Miss Wellington, always caretaking, thought 
she would look the box of rubbish over, to be sure 
nothing of value had slipped into it, when, in the 
very heart of the mass of old letters, bills, etc., she 
found the package of photographs that had so mysti- 
fied her earlier in the day. 

She deliberately put them into her pocket, but 
more perplexed than ever; for why should the man 
wish his u family pictures ” destroyed ? 

That evening, in the privacy of her own room, she 
took them from their place of concealment and stud- 
ied each face carefully. 

u There can be no doubt about these three,” she 
at length observed, separating the Arnold group from 
the others. “ I have known them too long and too 
intimately not to be sure ; and this dress on the baby 
— I remember it well ; it was Louis’ christening robe, 
and his mother worked the waist and sleeves with 
her own fingers. But these I know nothing about,” 
she continued, taking up the other two cards, a be- 
wildered look in her eyes. “ The English captain 
Mr. Sherburne claims as his father. Could this 
woman have been his mother ? And if this is true, 
what possible connection can the Arnold family have 
with him ? I have never heard him refer to a single 
relative until to-day. He said he had ‘ missed the 
pictures — had wondered what had become of them,’ 
and now he has voluntarily thrown them away — even 
taking the trouble to hide them in the midst of that 
rubbish. It is certainly very mysterious ! ” 

She finally put the photographs away, locking 


210 


STEP BY STEP 


them in a small compartment of her desk, the key 
to which she always carried about her person. 

This strange occurrence haunted her for a long 
time and aroused a suspicion in the woman’s mind 
that there might be something connected with his 
early life which Mr. Sherburne was anxious to con- 
ceal, and she longed for the coming of Louis, to whom 
she intended to show the pictures and ascertain what 
theory he would advance regarding the matter. 

When he did finally come it was a most happy 
meeting after five long years of separation. 

“ So you are through college, dear boy,” she said, 
with a proud look and intonation, when the first 
joyous greetings were over and she had made him 
sit down beside her with his hand still clasped in 
hers. “ How doubtful such a prospect seemed when 
you and I parted that day in Hew Hampshire ! But 
I never lost my faith that you would be amply pro- 
vided for — not even during those darkest days when 
you were at the farm. How wonderful it has been ! 
And you have also done your part — you have been 
a faithful worker and are now ready to start out in 
life for yourself. What are you going to do ? ” 

“ Going to make my fortune, Aunt Martha,” he 
cheerily returned, as he smiled fondly into the face 
of the friend he loved as dearly as ever. 

“ Yes, but how ? ” she persisted, for this stage in 
his career had caused her much serious thought. 

u Well, to begin with, I am going to take the first 
honorable position I can find, and do my level best 


STEP BY STEP 


211 


in it, of course keeping my eyes wide open all the 
time for something better.” 

“ Good boy ! That is the right spirit,” said Miss 
Wellington approvingly, then added: “ I imagined 
that Mr. Richards might want to make a lawyer of 
you.” 

“ I think it would have pleased him if I had chosen 
his profession,” Louis gravely replied ; “ but that 
would have taken three or four years more before I 
could really get into the traces for work. I want to 
be doing something for myself to make a home and 
have you in it with me — you dear woman ; ” and he 
gave her arm an affectionate stroke that spoke vol- 
umes. “ Really, Aunt Martha,” he presently re- 
sumed, “ Mr. Richards and the Westons have done 
so much for me I somehow shrink from increasing 
my obligations ; and besides, I do not think I was cut 
out for a lawyer — I am just longing to get into active 
business. But ” — smiling — “ there is getting to be 
to much ego about this, and you must have a lot that 
is interesting about yourself stored up for me. I 
can’t tell you, though, how disappointed I was be- 
cause you could not come on to commencement.” 

“ Well, I had made all my plans to do so, as you 
know, when Mr. Sherburne was taken ill. It was 
a blow to him as well as to me, for he had planned 
to go to Yassar to be present at the graduation of his 
ward, Miss Ashton, who, by the way, is coming to 
us, with the hope of getting a position to teach, after 
she has made some visits in the East,” Miss Welling- 
ton explained, then went on : “ But it was very nice 


212 


STEP BY STEP 


of yon to send me those few lines, every day of that 
busy week, to keep me posted. It was next to being 
there in person, and I was very proud when I heard 
of the honors you had won.” 

They talked on some time longer of matters in 
general, Miss Wellington going more into detail re- 
garding her life during their long separation than 
she had been able to do in her letters; then all at 
once she inquired: 

“ Louis, what was your mother’s maiden name ? 
It seems strange that, as intimately as I knew her, 
I never heard her mention it.” 

“Why! — did she never tell you? It was Annie 
J udkins.” 

Miss Wellington looked disappointed; she had 
almost hoped to hear something entirely different. 

“ Do you know anything about your grandparents 
■ — her father and mother ? ” she thoughtfully pur- 
sued. 

“ Very little,” said Louis. “ Mother never seemed 
to like to talk about her family. She said her father 
died when she was ten years old; then she and her 
mother came to this country and lived in Lowell, 
Mass., until she met father, who was a teacher there, 
and they were married. About a year and a half 
later I appeared upon the scene, and when I was 
only a few weeks old my grandmother died. That 
fall father was appointed principal of the high school 

i n ■, New Hampshire, and — but you know the 

rest, Aunt Martha.” 

Yes, she had heard all that before, but she was 


STEP BY STEP 


21 3 

disappointed not to get even a ray of light upon the 
mystery which so puzzled her. Then a new thought 
occurred to her. 

“ Do you know what your grandmother’s maiden 
name was ? ” she inquired. 

Louis laughed. 

“ Aunt Martha, you seem inclined to go into chron- 
ological details to-day,” he said ; u but they never 
held much of interest for me. No, I never heard 
my mother mention any relative as far back as that.” 

“ Then — of course you do not know whether there 
was ever any one by the name of Sherburne con- 
nected even remotely with your family ? ” 

Louis started as, for the first time in years, his 
thoughts reverted to those photographs he had lost 
on that last trip from New Hampshire. Indeed, the 
incident had long since almost faded from his mind ; 
not even when Miss Wellington had informed him 
with whom she was living had the name of Sherburne 
suggested anything to him. 

“ Why, Aunt Martha ! ” he exclaimed, “ it really 
is very queer, but it has never occurred to me before 
that you are keeping house for a man by the same 
name — John Sherburne! I wonder if — if there is 
any connection between the two ! ” 

“ What are you talking about, Louis ? ” she in- 
quired, and regarding him curiously. 

“ Something that happened to me when Mr. Rich- 
ards and I were on our way home from that trip to 
New Hampshire. You remember that box of old 
letters you found among mother’s things 2 ” 


214 


STEP BY STEP 


“ Yes, and I put them away for you because I 
thought they might possibly contain something of in- 
terest to you when you were older. But what of 
them ? ” and Miss Wellington was now all on the 
alert. 

“ You know you left all the things with Mrs. Good- 
man, to be taken care of until I could find a home,” 
Louis continued. “ I went there to pack and bring 
them away, and, while doing so, I dropped that box 
of letters, scattering them in every direction. In 
picking them up I found a little package tied with 
a blue ribbon. Peeling curious to know what it con- 
tained, I opened it and found five photographs ” 

“ Ah! ” 

“ Father’s and mother’s, with one of me, taken 
when I was a baby, and two others whom I did not 
know. One was a woman, the other an English sol- 
dier dressed in full uniform, and on the back of this 
a name had been written ” 

“ Louis ! — and that name was — ? ” almost breath- 
lessly interposed Miss Wellington. 

“ John Sherburne, captain in one of Her Majesty’s 
regiments. I have forgotten the number,” the young 
man replied. 

“ Where are those pictures now ? ” demanded his 
companion. 

“ I lost them ” 

“ Lost them ! When % Where ? How ? ” and the 
usually self-contained woman was actually trembling 
from excitement as at last she began to discern a ray 
of light. 


STEP BY STEP 


215 


“ I put them in my pocket, with one of yourself, 
which you gave me when you went away, for I wanted 
to look at them again; then I finished packing my 
things to take to Mr. Weston’s,” Louis resumed. 
“ On the way to Boston I took the photos out and 
showed them to Mr. Richards, after which I tied 
them up again, and thought I put them back in my 
pocket ; hut I suppose I was careless, for when we got 
home that night I looked for them and they were 
gone. I only found yours, which was in an envelope 
by itself, and which I had slipped into another 
pocket.” 

“ You lost them on the train ! ” 

“ Yes, I think so, and I felt pretty badly, for I 
liked that picture of my father better than the one 
in mother’s album. But it is queer about that Eng- 
lish captain and the name, isn’t it ? ” Louis con- 
cluded musingly. 

“ It certainly is,” responded Miss Wellington, in 
a repressed tone. Then rising, she added : “ Excuse 
me for a moment, Louis. I want to get something 
that is upstairs.” She left the room and ran swiftly 
up to her own, where, unlocking her desk, she took 
from it the package which she had found among Mr. 
Sherburne’s discarded rubbish the day they were 
dusting his books in the library. 

A minute later she was back downstairs, and 
handed the parcel to Louis, observing : 

“ There is something which I would like you to 
examine.” 

His eyes grew wide with wonder as he took it, 


2l6 


STEP BY STEP 


for it had a strangely familiar look ; then he flushed 
a startled crimson as he hastily removed the cover- 
ing and recognized its contents. 

“ Aunt Martha, how came you to have these ? 
They are the very pictures I lost that day on the 
train ! ” he cried in tones of amazement. 

Miss Wellington seated herself again beside him 
and related how and where they had been found; 
how strangely Mr. Sherburne had appeared at the 
time, and how they had afterwards come into her 
hands. 

“ Of course I instantly recognized your own and 
your father’s and mother’s faces,” she remarked, in 
conclusion, “ although I had presence of mind enough 
not to betray the fact to Mr. Sherburne, for I saw at 
once that there was a secret of some kind connected 
with his posession of them ; and I have been very im- 
patient to have you come, so that we might talk it 
over together.” 

“ And he claims that this soldier, ‘ John Sher- 
burne, of Her Majesty’s Fifty-seventh ’ — I remember 
the number distinctly now — was his father, and that 
he was named for him ? ” said Louis inquiringly, 
while he studied the face of the fine-looking captain 
attentively. 

“ Yes, that was what he said, although there was 
a peculiar constraint in his manner as he did so; 
while, the next moment, he appeared to regret that 
he had offered any information regarding the pic- 
tures, and hurried them out of sight, immediately 


STEP BY STEP 


21 7 

changing the subject. I afterwards found them hid- 
den among the rubbish to be thrown out.” 

“ It certainly is a very peculiar affair,” Louis ob- 
served ; “ but, Aunt Martha, I can swear that these 
are the identical pictures I lost — I even recall this 
broken corner on the old lady’s photo. Do you sup- 
pose she was my grandmother ? ” 

“ I can only surmise, dear boy,” said his friend, 
“ but one would almost imagine, from the fact that 
the five likenesses are together, that she and the cap- 
tain may have been the parents of your mother ; and 
yet there is the name, you see — that is against that 
theory. I am deeply puzzled. You must read every 
one of those letters, Louis, and possibly they will 
throw some light upon the matter.” 

“ I will ; but I shall have to send for them, for 
I left all the things I brought home from New 
Hampshire at Mr. Weston’s. I have never had occa- 
sion to use anything excepting some of my father’s 
books while I was in college, and, knowing I should 
not need them here, I left them at home. But how 
would it do to go to Mr. Sherburne, state the case 
frankly to him, and ask him to explain the mystery 
to us ? ” the young man thoughtfully proposed. 

“ I had thought of that myself, for, as you know, 
I believe in straightforward dealing,” Miss Welling- 
ton replied ; “ but something tells me to move cau- 
tiously. I think we will study the situation for 
awhile — at any rate until you have read those 
letters.” 


218 


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“ Very well; I have always found it wise to rely 
upon your judgment/’ was the smiling response; 
“ and now I think ” 

“ Wait/’ said Miss Wellington, laying a detaining 
hand upon his arm as he was about to rise. “ I heard 
Mr. Sherburne just come in. I would like you two 
to meet.” 

A minute later the gentleman entered the room. 

“ Ah, Mr. Sherburne, you are a little early this 
■afternoon,” Miss Wellington observed, as both she 
and Louis arose at his approach. “ This is oppor- 
tune, for I would like to have you meet ‘ my boy/ 
of whom you have so often heard me speak — Mr. 
Louis Arnold, Mr. Sherburne.” 


STEP BY STEP 


219 


CHAPTER XVI 

The two men experienced a simultaneous shock 
as they looked into each other’s face. Louis instantly 
recognized the gentleman who had accosted him on 
the grounds at the county fair, ten years previous, 
and who had so generously supplied him with pea- 
nuts upon that occasion, while Mr. Sherburne, as he 
now searched the young man’s frank, open counte- 
nance, which had changed but little, except to mature 
in contour and intelligence, knew him to be the iden- 
tical boy who had so startled him on that same day, 
and awakened in his long-dormant conscience a sense 
of mingled fear and guilt, and also of impending 
evil. 

But John Sherburne, after the first thrill of con- 
firmation had passed, cordially grasped the hand 
Louis extended to him, and courteously expressed 
his pleasure upon making the acquaintance of Miss 
Wellington’s protege. 

At the same time he could not quite conceal from 
the alertly observant eyes of his housekeeper his per- 
turbation upon being again confronted by this porten- 
tous reminder of a certain event in his career which 
he fain would have obliterated from his conscious- 
ness; and the woman was confirmed in her previous 
conviction that the man was in possession of some 


220 


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secret which in some way involved the interests of 
her dear boy. 

Yet Mr. Sherburne quickly recovered himself, and, 
inviting Louis to he seated again, engaged him in 
conversation and kept him talking for another half 
hour, drawing him out upon his life in college, ply- 
ing him with questions regarding his plans for the 
future — what line of business he preferred, where 
he intended to locate, etc. Miss Wellington was 
quick to observe that when Louis mentioned that he 
had come to Chicago to make a start in life a shade 
of annoyance flitted over Mr. Sherburne’s face ; while 
some of the radically honest ideas which the younger 
man expressed, as they were discussing certain pre- 
vailing business methods, appeared to smite the elder 
upon a sensitive spot, even causing him to change 
color two or three times. 

After Louis’ departure John Sherburne, a gloomy 
frown upon his brow, retired to his library, where he 
sat for a long time in deep thought. It was evident 
that his reflections were not of a pleasant nature, 
for his face was overcast, his eyes heavy and anxious, 
and now and then he muttered nervously to himself. 

At length he arose, went to his safe, and from an 
inner compartment brought forth an official-looking 
envelope. Going back to his desk he drew out a 
time-yellowed document, which he carefully exam- 
ined, a very disagreeable expression of mingled 
anxiety, perplexity and cupidity settling upon his 
countenance. 

Finally he pushed it from him with an angry ges- 


STEP BY STEP 


221 


ture, that had something of the petulance of a child 
in it. 

“ I thought this affair was dead and buried ages 
ago,” he burst forth. “ I never dreamed of being 
confronted by its ghost — aye, something more sub- 
stantial than a ghost, if I am not mistaken. I did 
not suppose I should ever need give it another 
thought. I wonder if it would be best to destroy it 
now ? ” he concluded reflectively. He sat for some 
time considering this proposition, then finally re- 
sumed : 

“ If I do reduce it to ashes, then should want to 
go back to the old country by and by, I might need 
it and regret not having kept it. Ho one knows I 
have it — at least no one who could possibly have any 
interest in it ; no one ever has access to my safe, so 
I think I will risk it.” 

And having come to this decision, J ohn Sherburne 
refolded and replaced the parchment in the envelope 
and restored it to its compartment in his safe, after 
which, assuming his usual genial manner, but with 
a cunning, steel-like glint in his eyes, he sauntered 
into the family sitting-room and joined his house- 
keeper, whom he found cosily ensconced in a com- 
fortable rocker, and reading the evening paper in 
the rosy glow of the crimson-shaded lamp upon the 
table. 

They often met here a little before dinner, if he 
chanced to come in early, and chatted socially upon 
various matters. 

“ That is a fine young man who called upon you 


222 


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this afternoon, Miss Wellington; you have a right 
to be proud of your ‘ boy/ ” Mr. Sherburne re- 
marked, as he drew a chair opposite her and sat 
down. “ He called you ‘ Aunt Martha.’ Is he 
really your nephew ? ” 

“ Ho/’ replied Miss Wellington ; “ he is in no way 
related to me by the tie of blood; but he is a dear 
boy whom I took to my home and cared for after he 
was left an orphan, to save him from the poor-house. 
He was with me two years — until I was called West,” 
and she briefly gave him an outline of Louis’ history 
from that time. She had never said much about him 
before, except incidentally. 

“ Then you knew his father and mother ? Were 
they reared in your town ? ” pursued the gentleman, 
trying to appear indifferently matter-of-fact, but 
with an undercurrent of eagerness which his com- 
panion, her suspicions still on the alert, detected, 
notwithstanding. 

“ Ho, they did not come there to live until after 
their marriage,” she said, then added, as she bent a 
direct look upon him : “ Mr. Arnold was a Massa- 
chusetts man, but his wife was English.” 

“ Ah ! ” and his tone was a trifle sharp as if from 
anxiety, “ I’m English myself, as you are aware. Do 
you know what part of England Mrs. Arnold came 
from % ” 

“ Ho, I merely know the fact. Although our ac- 
quaintance covered a number of years, Mrs. Arnold 
very rarely referred to her past ; she once mentioned 
that her father died when she was quite young, and, 


STEP BY STEP 


223 


soon after, she and her mother came to this country 
to live ; and ” — as if this had occurred to her as an 
afterthought — “ her maiden name was Judkins.” 

John Sherburne gave a nervous start; then, to 
cover it, leaned forward to turn the light a trifle 
lower. 

That name had not fallen upon his ears since that 
day of the county fair when he had questioned Louis 
upon the same subject; and now he secretly anathe- 
matized himself because it had power to make such 
a coward of him. 

“ Young Arnold appears to be bright and ener- 
getic — straightforward, too,” he observed, after an 
interval of silence, but with a slight shrug as he men- 
tioned the latter virtue. “ I suppose he would like 
to get started in something pretty soon.” 

“ He said he would take the first honorable position 
that offered,” Miss Wellington replied. 

“ Regardless of salary ? ” queried her companion, 
with a smile. 

“ I think his object is to get a start, then prove 
himself worthy of adequate compensation.” 

66 U — m ; I believe he would, too,” said Mr. Sher- 
burne, with an affirmative nod. 

“ I know he would be faithful in whatever he 
attempted; he has always been very conscientious,” 
Miss Wellington affirmed confidently. 

“ He certainly is an honor to your early training, 
madam. What a pity it is that such women as you 
cannot have the molding of a large family of boys — 
the world would soon be a much better place than it 


224 


STEP BY STEP 


is,” and witli what sounded like a quickly repressed 
sigh Mr. Sherburne bestowed a look of respectful 
esteem upon the gentle face opposite him, and which 
bore the unmistakable stamp of nobility, purity, and 
refinement. 

“ By the way,” he added, an instant later, as he 
drew a letter from his pocket, “ I heard from my 
niece to-day. She, too, is getting rather insistent 
regarding a position, and is thinking of cutting her 
visits short to come here and help me in my quest 
for her. I suppose it does not matter to you when 
she comes.” 

“ No, indeed; I shall be glad to see Miss Ashton 
again. I was quite attracted to her during her last 
visit to Mrs. Sherburne in Colorado,” Miss Welling- 
ton responded in a cordial tone. 

“ You are sure this change in her plans will not 
interfere in any way with your own ? ” queried the 
gentleman, who was always considerate of his house- 
hold. 

“ Not in the least. I did intend, as you know, 
to go East to make Louis a visit this summer; but 
since he has come here to live I do not care for the 
trip. I love young people, and would like a house 
full of them.” 

Mr. Sherburne sighed audibly now. He also had 
yearned all his life for a house full of young people. 
It had been a great disappointment to both himself 
and his wife that no children came to them; hence 
they had always made much of Mrs. Sherburne’s 
niece — Josephine Ashton. But the man’s softer 


STEP BY STEP 


225 


mood was of short duration. He had met with an 
unexpected facer that afternoon in the coming of 
Louis — one which seemed to point to danger ahead 
unless he were wary in strengthening his defenses; 
and as he sat in his library after the young man’s 
departure, studying the situation, a plan had come 
to him by means of which he thought he could do 
this. 

It was not a good or a clean scheme, and he was 
secretly conscious, even while considering it, that he 
was only plunging himself deeper in the mire of 
wrongdoing into which he had waded in making his 
first venture in life. But fortune and position had 
ever been his gods, and having attained them, “ by 
hook or by crook,” he had no intention of jeop- 
ardizing them at this late day. 

A few days after the above conversation Louis 
received a communication from Mr. Sherburne in 
which he asked for a personal interview, and stated 
that he had an opening which, after talking over the 
conditions, he might think would do for a beginning. 

Under the circumstances this proposition came as 
a surprise to Louis, and his first impulse had been 
to politely reject it, even without the formality of 
an interview. After recovering his photographs and 
the talk that had followed with Miss Wellington, he 
had not been at all attracted to J ohn Sherburne, not- 
withstanding that gentleman had accorded him the 
utmost courtesy. He felt that there was something 
very strange connected with Mr. Sherburne’s claim- 
ing them as family pictures; while, too, in spite of 


226 


STEP BY STEP 


his affability, he himself had not seemed to ring 
quite true. 

At the same time he was anxious to get into busi- 
ness — to be “ doing something ” — and, after consult- 
ing Mr. Eichards, who, although he knew nothing 
about the man personally, thought there could be no 
harm in looking into the matter, he went at once to 
Mr. Sherburne’s place of business, which he found 
to be in a handsome building located in one of the 
finest streets in the mercantile portion of the city. 

He was very cordially received, and after half 
an hour’s talk with his prospective employer he found 
much of his prejudice melting away; and before the 
interview closed he agreed to accept the position at 
a salary which he regarded as very liberal, consider- 
ing he was just beginning. 

Mr. Eichards also thought him very fortunate in 
this respect, but suggested that Mr. Sherburne might 
have been influenced somewhat by his regard for 
Miss Wellington in manifesting this unusual interest 
in him. 

Miss Wellington herself, however, looked rather 
grave upon being informed of the arrangement. 

“ There is something about it which I do not un- 
derstand,” she affirmed, when thinking it over alone. 
“ I am convinced that Mr. Sherburne knows some- 
thing about either Louis or his family which he is 
anxious to conceal. He is English, Mrs. Arnold’s 
parents were English, and I am impressed that there 
may have been a wrong done some time in the past 
for which he is now trying to salve his conscience, 
perhaps.” 


STEP BY STEP 


227 

She began to study him more carefully; to weigh 
his motives, his words and acts. He had always 
appeared to be a kind man; was generous to a fault 
in household matters, a devoted husband to the last 
hour of his wife’s life, and very considerate of the 
help in his family, especially so in connection with 
herself. 

What his business methods were she had no means 
of knowing. She had been told that he was accounted 
a rich man, and had heard him boast that he had 
made his own way, unaided, up fortune’s ladder. 

Still, since the affair of the photographs, she had 
felt an increasing distrust of him, and now this un- 
usual business proposition to Louis only served to 
multiply her suspicions. She found herself growing 
anxious lest her “ boy,” under his influence, should 
become so entangled in his business methods, if they 
were not honest, that he would be tempted out of an 
absolutely straightforward career by the glitter of 
gold. 

Then there followed a twinge of self-condemnation 
in view of such uncharitable suspicion and unworthy 
doubt. “ What are you doing, Martha Wellington? ” 
she demanded sharply of herself. “ You have no 
business to wrong your neighbor even in thought, or 
cast the shadow of such a fear over the foster-child 
who has stood so nobly all these years. He is true 
as steel, and I know that God, who has hitherto been 
his shield, will keep him true.” 

Louis entered upon his duties with enthusiasm, 
for at last he was really launched upon the world 


228 


STEP BY STEP 


to do battle for himself. He found his work con- 
genial, and it brought him into contact with bright, 
intelligent, wide-awake people. 

He found that Mr. Sherburne was a broker and 
promoter on an extensive scale, and he had been as- 
signed to the position of confidential clerk and mes- 
senger, a berth which had been held for many years 
by a man who, like himself, had gone to his employer 
as a youngster and grown up with him. 

He wondered that, in his inexperience, he had 
been selected for so responsible a place; but after 
two or three months it dawned upon him, little by 
little, that it was because of this very fact he had 
been wanted — that he might be the more easily ma- 
nipulated and molded to the man’s will and his meth- 
ods, which were far from being straightforward, and 
not infrequently were downright dishonest. 

He was appalled one day when, after carefully 
studying the plan of a new venture and receiving 
from Mr. Sherburne his instructions how to handle 
it in talking it up to possible purchasers, he became 
convinced that he was being used as a cat’s paw in an 
absolute fraud, cleverly planned to catch the unwary 
and bring quick and large returns into the promoter’s 
pockets. 

With a sinking heart he pushed both the plan and 
the typewritten sheets away from him, while his 
mouth settled into a stern, resolute line, and his eyes 
grew clouded and anxious. 

He dropped his head upon his hand and did some 
very hard thinking in a very few minutes. 


STEP BY STEP 


229 


He asked himself what he should do ; then smiled 
at the question, since before it was formulated in his 
mind he had already known what he must do — the 
only right thing to do. A moment later he was 
standing, tall and straight, before his employer, the 
obnoxious papers in his hand. 

“ Mr. Sherburne,” he began, “ these plans and 
what I know about the matter do not correspond with 
your instructions.” 

u Well ? ” briefly inquired the man. 

“ How can you expect me to talk up and sell stock 
in what doesn’t exist ? ” 

“ I beg your pardon, the 6 Bellmont 5 does exist,” 
suavely corrected the promoter. “ The mine is there, 
the copper is there, and plenty of it.” 

“ Yes, but it isn’t fairly opened up yet,” objected 
Louis. 

“ True ; but it will be when — we get sufficient 
money in hand to warrant it.” 

The slight emphasis on the adverb, with the pause 
following, were abhorrently suggestive to the listener. 

“ But — you know what I mean, Mr. Sherburne — 
I should have to tell no end of falsehoods in talking 
it up as you have directed,” said Louis, with a ges- 
ture of repulsion. 

“ Well, the story might seem a little premature, 
if people knew just how things are to-day; but when 
everything gets to running nicely, and the ore is 
piling up on the surface, it would be true enough, 
wouldn’t it ? ” his employer craftily argued. 

“ And when is all this to occur ? ” demanded the 


STEP BY STEP 


230 

younger man, with a direct look which, in spite of 
his hardihood, brought a hot wave to the other’s 
cheek, 

“ Oh, Arnold, you mustn’t get squeamish.” Mr. 
Sherburne tried to speak lightly, but he hitched ner- 
vously in his chair, then added : “ There are tricks 
in all trades, you know.” 

“ ‘ Tricks ! ’ ” repeated Louis, in an indescribable 
tone. 

“ Well, I admit that is not a pleasant word,” said 
Mr. Sherburne, his eyes wavering beneath the look 
in those that were regarding him so searchingly. 
“ Perhaps if I had said there are to-day certain sys- 
tems in operation which seem necessary in order to 
compete successfully in the business world, it would 
not have sounded so objectionable to your unaccus- 
tomed ears,” he concluded, with a perceptible sneer. 

“ But I don’t see ” the young man began, when 

his companion interrupted him somewhat sharply. 

“ You don’t need to ‘ see ’ ; all you have to do is to 
obey orders, and I will shoulder the responsibility,” 
he said. “ You are a very convincing talker, Arnold, 
and you have met with unusual success thus far, for 
a greenhorn. Now you just go ahead according to 
those instructions, and I will see that you have no 
cause to regret it.” 

Louis took a step forward and laid the papers he 
held upon the man’s desk. 

“ I came here to follow instructions, Mr. Sher- 
burne, and with the determination to devote my best 
energies to you and your interests, hoping thus to 


STEP BY STEP 


231 


promote my own. But I expected to receive only 
honorable instructions, which would in no way tend 
to rob me of my self-respect ” 

“Bah! Louis, don’t preach,” was the impatient 
interruption. 

“ Pardon me, Mr. Sherburne, I had no intention 
of reading you a sermon,” he said, flushing, “ but 
this much more I must say — I will never lie, or steal, 
or cheat, to make money for myself or any other man. 
I mean to rise in the world. I mean to become a suc- 
cessful business man; but I will never build up my 
own fortune by robbing my neighbor, who has just 
as much right to a share of the good things of life 
as I have.” 


V 


STEP BY STEP 


232 


CHAPTER XVII 

John Sherburne sat with downcast eyes and 
clouded brow while Louis bravely voiced his uncom- 
promising attitude regarding the revolting theory 
that a man must become a beast of prey in order to 
make his life a success. There was a curious ex- 
pression on his face, too, which betrayed that he was 
not wholly unmoved by the noble-spirited words of 
the young man. His fluctuating color and a slight 
twitching of his lips told that there was yet a vital 
spark remaining in a conscience repeatedly cauter- 
ized by willful and persistent wrongdoing. 

But as Louis ceased speaking Mr. Sherburne threw 
back his head with a restive air, while his lips parted 
in a sneer that unpleasantly revealed his strong and 
still perfect teeth. 

“ So you expect to go through life unsmirched by 
human frailties ! ” he caustically retorted. “ Truly, 
you have set a high standard for yourself. It all 
sounds very fine, Arnold,” he went on coldly, but 
with an underlying thrill of anger in his tone, u and 
it is, perhaps, what I might have expected from you ; 
but when you presume to criticise and combat estab- 
lished methods and systems, which the smartest busi- 
ness men of the world have indorsed, you have set 
yourself against a mighty and resistless tide. I don’t 
deny that there is an element of sharp practice in 


STEP BY STEP 


2 33 

my business ; but I am no worse than my neighbors, 
and, mark my words, young man, you will yet be 
driven to use your own wits or you will never succeed 
in life.” 

“ If by using my wits you mean taking a dishonor- 
able advantage of others, I shall indeed never know 
the import of the word success,” Louis returned in 
an inflexible tone. “ I would rather possess the con- 
sciousness that I am an honest man than all the 
money in Chicago ! ” 

“ No doubt that is a very praiseworthy sentiment; 
but you can’t live up to it and amount to anything — 
nobody can the way the world is going these days,” 
said Mr. Sherburne sharply. 

“ I am going to try,” was the briefly quiet response. 

“ But don’t you believe that people should receive 
in proportion to their ability — that some kinds of 
labor and talent are worth more than others, and 
those who incur heavy responsibilities and large risks 
should reap accordingly ? ” demanded the broker. 

“ Yes ; but that is a principle which, because there 
is no organized way of justly enforcing it, is subject 
to unlimited abuse,” said Louis thoughtfully. “ For 
instance: a college friend of mine, who was working 
his own way and having the hardest kind of a grind, 
got a cinder in his eye. We went to a near-by drug- 
store for help, but the druggist failed to remove it 
and directed us to a noted specialist around the cor- 
ner. We sought him, and in less than two minutes 
the offending particle was dislodged. My friend 
drew out his wallet and asked what was to pay. 


STEP BY STEP 


234 

1 Ten dollars.’ i I can’t do it/ said Bob ; ‘ it’s too 
much.’ All be bad in the world just then was a five- 
dollar bill and a little change. * That is my price/ 
frigidly returned tbe great man. I indignantly came 
to tbe rescue with the result that the specialist took 
Bob’s bill, yet made him feel like a beggar as he paid 
it, when one dollar would have been ample remuner- 
ation for the service. Another case : A surgeon per- 
formed an operation which took exactly one hour of 
his time and demanded a thousand dollars as his 
fee.” 

“ But that was for skill — the ‘ know how ’ — and 
the responsibility. Besides, professional men spend 
years and a good deal of money preparing for their 
work,” opposed Mr. Sherburne. 

“ True, the skill and responsibility were worth a 
great deal in this case, and the surgeon should have 
been paid accordingly; but the amount charged was 
extortion. Yet such unjust demands as these are 
not to be compared to many swindling schemes that 
are continually multiplying to rob not only the un- 
wary rich, but hard-working men and women, of their 
all, and fill the pockets of sharpers. It is a kind of 
success — if it can be so termed — that I do not desire, 
and I believe there are men who, to-day, are making 
good money honestly. They may not get rich as fast 
as those who sell bogus stocks, and overreach people 
in many other ways ; but, with what they do accumu- 
late, they at least have a clean conscience. Mr. Sher- 
burne, I am going to oast my lot in with that happier 
minority.” 


STEP BY STEP 


235 

As Louis ceased speaking Mr. Sherburne sprang 
to bis feet and nervously paced the length of the room 
three or four times, for not a few of the young man’s 
arrows had shot home with stinging effect, and a 
sudden longing swept over his heart. He realized 
that a great opportunity had presented itself — not 
only to right a great wrong, but to abandon the dan- 
gerous craft in which he had so long sailed the treach- 
erous seas of speculation; change his questionable 
methods, ally himself with this clean, enterprising, 
straightforward fellow, and so silence forever the 
crafty demon within him, and add one more to the 
u happier minority ” who would help to make the 
world a better and a brighter place. 

Secretly he was often weary of his life and its 
aims — love of excitement, social position, and the in- 
satiable pursuit of wealth — for they were evanescent, 
temporal; some time they must be left behind; then 
what would he have for eternity ? 

Arguments of this nature had begun to haunt 
him only since his wife’s death and the advent of 
Martha Wellington, with her lofty principles and 
their practical application in her daily living; her 
purity of thought, integrity of purpose, and love for 
humanity. Were they not more to be desired than 
all his gold ? 

These were some of the thoughts — messengers from 
a higher atmosphere — which now flashed through his 
mind as he restlessly paced his office. 

He longed to break the shackles that bound him. 

Should he heed this inward yearning, newly awak- 


STEP BY STEP 


236 

ened by the words and attitude of his high-minded 
clerk ? 

But the cost! Confession, humiliation, and the 
surrender of the golden calf he had worshiped for 
a lifetime ! 

He paused, straightened himself, his face suddenly 
hardening; then he wheeled around and faced his 
companion again. 

“Well?” Just one word, questioningly uttered, 
but there was a volume of meaning in it. 

Louis understood. 

“ Yes, it will be better so,” he said. “ You have 
your systems to maintain. I have my honor to pre- 
serve. The two will not work together, and I shall 
have to find a berth elsewhere.” 

“Very well, Arnold; just as you please,” Mr. 
Sherburne coolly returned. He resumed his seat, 
opened his check-book, and made out a check for the 
amount of Louis’ salary to date. 

The young man quietly put his desk in order, 
gathering together what few things belonged to him 
personally, then reached for his hat to go. 

“ This, I believe, will square accounts between us,” 
his employer observed, pushing the slip of paper to- 
ward Louis. “ It is rather short notice, however,” 
he supplemented in an injured tone. 

“But I cannot follow the instructions you have 
given me for to-day, Mr. Sherburne; still, if there 
is any other work or writing you wish done, I will 
gladly remain until you can get some one else,” Louis 
obligingly replied. 


STEP BY STEP 


237 


“ No; it is this special matter which presses just 
now ; so, if you can’t attend to that, we may as well 
cry quits first as last,” was the curt response. 

Louis picked up the check, read the amount, 
thought a moment, then transferred it to his wallet. 
He believed he had honestly earned it; for, although 
he had known for some time that Mr. Sherburne’s 
methods were not always honorable, he had not, up 
to that time, been obliged to mix in them in any way. 

He thanked him courteously, then inquired, as he 
drew on his gloves: 

“ Can I do anything for you, sir, on my way down 
town? ” 

“ No, -thank you; good morning, Arnold,” and the 
summarily dismissed clerk politely responded, and 
went his way. 

Once out upon the street Louis felt almost dazed 
by the suddenness of the change in his prospects. 
During the last few months life had begun to look 
very bright to him, because he believed he was well 
started upon a promising career, and he had put all 
his energy, all his enthusiasm into his work; and 
now he was an outcast — an outcast from choice and 
principle, it is true, and he had not a single regret 
for the step he had taken. 

But the situation was not inspiriting, and for a 
block or two he looked grave and somewhat anxious. 
Then his face lighted. 

“ This won’t do,” he said, giving himself a shake, 
“ and the old rule will work as well now as it ever did 


STEP BY STEP 


238 

— ‘ God will take care of it/ and I’m sure there is 
a place and work for me somewhere.” 

He knew that he was more than welcome to remain 
with Mr. Richards until something favorable offered, 
and that his friend would use his influence in every 
possible way to aid him in his search. But his cheeks 
flamed hotly as this thought presented itself to him. 

“ I cannot be dependent upon him any longer, and 
I will not take my troubles to anyone,” he said, with 
a resolute tightening of his lips. “ I will say nothing 
about this until after I get located again.” 

So he went and came as usual for the next few 
days, while he spent his time studying the newspapers 
and answering advertisements. 

It seemed a thankless task, however, and he began 
to carry a heavy heart before the week was out, as he 
was curtly turned away from place after place. He 
did not go to see Miss Wellington, as usual, for he 
knew she would be quick to discern that things were 
not going well with him, and he did not wish to 
burden her. He felt quite sure that Mr. Sherburne 
had not informed her of the break between them, be- 
cause he knew he would have heard from her imme- 
diately if such had been the case. 

One morning he found this brief but comprehen- 
sive advertisement in one of the dailies : 

“ Wanted — To fill a vacancy, an active, honest 
young man ; good penman, good accountant, and not 
afraid to rough it. Apply in person to J. Bush- 
kirk, Ho. 40 St.” 


STEP BY STEP 


2 39 

“ That means hard work and close application,” 
mused Louis, as he read it over the second time. 
u The man who inserted it is a straightforward char- 
acter — knows what he wants, and isn’t given to min- 
cing matters. I like the sound of it, and I’ll look 
it up.” 

He at once bent his steps toward the locality and 
address given, and finally walked into a modest of- 
fice on the ground floor of an unpretentious building, 
which bore over the entrance the equally unassuming 
sign: “ J. Bushkirk, Lumber.” 

There were several clerks in the room, of one of 
whom Louis inquired for the proprietor. He was 
directed to an inner office at the rear, and presently 
found himself in the presence of a vigorous, middle- 
aged, shrewd-looking man, who glanced up alertly 
from the pile of letters and bills on the desk before 
him as Louis entered. 

“ Good morning,” he brusquely observed, while his 
keen glance searched the face of the young man. 
“ What can I do for you ? ” 

“ I have come to inquire about this ad. I am out 
of a position and in search of one,” said Louis, com- 
ing directly to the point, at the same time laying the 
neatly clipped paragraph before the gentleman. 

“ Well, can you fill the bill ? ” bluntly demanded 
the lumber merchant, without removing his piercing 
eyes from the prepossessing young applicant. 

Louis’ white, even teeth gleamed for an instant 
in a smile of amusement. 

“ That remains to be proven, sir,” he respectfully 


240 


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returned, while, with his fountain pen, he rapidly 
wrote his name and address upon a leaf from his 
note-book and laid it beside the advertisement. 
“ There is a specimen of my penmanship ; I am fairly 
good at figures; honest I certainly wish and intend 
to be, and I am not afraid of hard work that will 
bring me a just equivalent.” 

“ That is straight from the shoulder, young man,” 
said the merchant, an appreciative twinkle leaping 
into his eyes. “ I like plain talk. Now I am a lum- 
ber dealer, as you doubtless observed when you came 
in. I have vessels that are constantly bringing in 
large loads from the forests of Michigan, where I 
have several sawmills running day and night. I 
am in need of a clerk, and he will find plenty to do, 
both in the office and out; for there are times when 
I want him to go into the woods and mills with me 
for a week or two at a time, and where we have to 
put up with limited accommodations and homely 
fare. It is tough work at times, especially when the 
weather is rough; yet there’s a spice of adventure 
and novelty about it that might not be objectionable 
to the right kind of fellow. Now, if you wish to give 
the berth a trial, and can show me satisfactory cre- 
dentials, we’ll talk more about the details. Oh, 
by the way, I forgot about the c just equivalent/ ” he 
interposed, with a comical quirk of an eye. “ The 
pay will be fifteen dollars a week for the first three 
months. At the end of that time, if everything goes 
O. K., I’ll raise you according to your ability. 
That’s all. Now it’s up to you.” 


STEP BY STEP 


241 

Louis liked the man in spite of his brusqueness. He 
knew there was good money to be made in the lum- 
ber business, and the place, even though the pay was 
small and the work rough and laborious, might lead 
to something very desirable in the future. 

He arrived at quick conclusions after a minute of 
rapid thinking, during which his companion con- 
tinued to watch him curiously. 

“ I think I would like to come to you, Mr. Bush- 
kirk,” he said. “ I will try to make myself useful 
to you for three months, and we will both know by 
that time whether I can meet your requirements, 
and whether I shall find it to my interest to go on. 
I can give you for reference William Bichards, 
attorney ” 

“ I know him,” the man broke in, a note of satis- 
faction in his tones. “ He has been my lawyer for 
years — a fine, solid man he is, too.” 

“ He is my guardian,” quietly observed Louis. 

“ That is all I need to know, Mr. Arnold. How, 
when will you start in ? ” and the merchant’s cordial 
tone indicated that he was well pleased, even anxious 
to put his new clerk to the test. 

“ When will you need me ? ” Louis inquired. 

“ How — this minute ; I’m driven to death with 
orders. But I can wait a day or two if ” 

“ Ho, sir. I have nothing to do, and I would be 
only too glad to begin * this minute,’ ” the young 
man interposed, with smiling alacrity, “ and you can 
set me at something as soon as you please.” 

“ That’s the talk,” rejoined Mr. Bushkirk briskly, 


242 


STEP BY STEP 


adding, as lie began to shuffle together some papers: 
“ There’s a desk for you over by the window, and 
here is a pile of orders I want inventoried in this 
book. Go ahead now and let’s see what you can 
do.” 

So Louis entered at once upon his labors, and 
found that there was indeed plenty to do. 

He went home that night buoyant and happy. 
After dinner he gave his friends a history of the 
experiences of the past week, and was warmly com- 
mended by them for the stand he had taken with 
Mr. Sherburne. 

“ But why did you not confide in me, Louis, and 
let me help you ? ” Mr. Richards inquired, with a 
note of reproof in his voice. “ You must not ignore 
your friends when you are in trouble.” 

“ I wanted to 'try my own wings, sir,” said Louis, 
smiling frankly into his guardian’s face. “ I have 
my own row to hoe — you have been more than good 
to me all these years — and the sooner I begin to look 
out for myself the sooner I shall ascertain what I 
am good for.” 

“ I like your independence, my boy,” approvingly 
replied his friend. 

“ And I like your integrity, Louis,” Mrs. Rich- 
ards here remarked, giving him an affectionate 
glance. “ You know we are told : ‘ He that walketh 
uprightly walketh surely.’ ” 

“ But what does a man really amount to if he isn’t 
honest ? ” the young man gravely responded. “ No- 
body respects him. He cannot respect himself, for 


STEP BY STEP 


243 


what he has accumulated by overreaching others 
doesn’t actually belong to him, and, like Christian 
with his pack, he must continually carry that con- 
sciousness around with him as long as he lives. To 
my thinking it doesn’t pay.” 

“ Neither has such an individual any right to 
claim that he is a man,” observed Mrs. Richards re- 
flectively. 

“ What would you call him, Helen ? ” inquired 
Farmer Weston, who with his good wife had come 
to spend the winter with their daughter. 

“ ‘ God made man in his own image,’ ” she quoted, 
“ and to my understanding one is never a c man ’ only 
in so far as he is Godlike — that is, as he manifests 
or reflects the graces and attributes of God.” 

Louis glanced at her, nodded and smiled, thus in- 
dicating his full sympathy with her concept of man, 
and with a look in his dark eyes that reminded Mr. 
Weston of certain discussions he had with him as a 
boy, and which had begun, even then, to weaken his 
old theological armor at certain points. 

“ Then your concept of man, Helen, is character, 
not a personality,” he observed, after considering her 
definition for a moment or two. 

“ Exactly. The term ‘ man ’ has been sadly per- 
verted,” she replied. “ We speak of the ‘ nobility 
of England ’ ; but what a corruption of the title ! It 
certainly is a misnomer. There are doubtless some 
good men among the nobility, but many in its ranks 
are anything but truly noble.” 

“ Then, if perfect character alone was God’s ere- 


244 


STEP BY STEP 


ation which He named man, what, according to your 
theory, are we who inhabit this mundane sphere ? ” 
inquired the farmer. 

“ We are ” — she nodded roguishly at him as she 
paused to give emphasis to her words — “ supposi- 
titious.” 

The man sat erect as a new thought came to him. 

“ Make-believes % 99 he said, as if he had been jarred 
a trifle. 

“ That is just what we are — pretentious atoms 
who have assumed a title that does not rightly belong 
to us,” his daughter returned, her lovely face grow- 
ing earnest and thoughtful. She picked up a pencil 
from the table, and making a character upon a piece 
of paper, passed it to him. 

“ What is that, father % 99 she inquired. 

“ The number two,” he answered. 

“ Is it ? ” she said, with lifted brows. 

“ Well, to be exact, it is the figure two,” he re- 
turned, with a smile. “ Ah ! ” he added alertly with 
the next breath, “ I get your point now. You make 
a distinction between the figure and the number. The 
figure stands for your * supposititious ’ man, your 
c pretentious atom ’ ; the number represents God’s per- 
fect man, for a number can never be anything but 
perfect, while figures can be whatever you happen to 
make them, and they are always the counterfeit, 
never the real thing. How to carry the illustration 
a little further, a number never becomes a figure, and 
vice versa . How are you going to make that prac- 


STEP BY STEP 


24 5 

tical in human affairs, Helen? How are you going 
to get at your perfect man ? ” 

“ When you understand what numbers really are 
you no longer need the figures to represent them — 
you erase them,” Mrs. Richards replied. “ You 
might hear various numbers mentioned, and you 
would never fail to recognize them apart from their 
symbols. In the same way, if we know what God’s 
man really is we recognize the perfect character as 
man rather than this imperfect physique, which, 
eventually, must also be erased, for flesh and blood 
cannot inherit the kingdom, you know. But there 
is a spark, a ray of divine intelligence, goodness and 
love in every human consciousness; and as this is 
allowed to grow — to control and transform that 
consciousness — the full stature of the perfect man 
finally appears.” 

“ But how ” Mr. Weston began in a perplexed 

tone, when his daughter laughingly interrupted him. 

“Father dear, don’t try to go any deeper until 
you have thoroughly sounded the waters you are in,” 
she said. “ You might get beyond your depth and lose 
your bearings. Keep your sounding-line busy — keep 
on with your study of the Bible and the ‘ little book,’ 
and you can’t fail to reach port at last.” 

“ So this is what your Christian Science teaches 
you? ” observed Mr. Weston, after a short silence. 

“ Yes ; although it is but a very small part of it,” 
replied his daughter, with luminous eyes. 

“ Well — on the whole, I believe I’m growing to 
like it,” the man asserted, to the astonishment of his 


STEP BY STEP 


246 

listeners. “ That there is good logic in it I can’t 
deny; and, with such conscientious exponents as you, 
Louis and Miss Wellington are, it is certainly at- 
tractive from the viewpoint of character-building. 
You’ve cracked some nuts for me to-night, Helen, on 
which I’ve been hammering for years without getting 
at their kernel.” 

“ Yes, and there are a good many more in your 
theological basket, father, that will have to come un- 
der the hammer of truth in the same way,” was the 
laughing retort. 

“ I — shouldn’t — wonder,” he gravely responded, 
which was an unlooked-for and rather startling ad- 
mission coming from such a source. Then turning 
to Louis, with a gleam of mingled affection and pride 
in his eyes, he continued : “ Your definition of an 
honest man, my boy, has led into quite a metaphysical 
discussion. You have great cause to be grateful for 
those early years that you spent with that good 
woman — Miss Martha Wellington.” 


STEP BY STEP 


247 


CHAPTER XVIII 

During the week that had elapsed since Louis 
severed his connection with Mr. Sherburne, some 
interesting and even startling incidents had oc- 
curred to demand that gentleman’s attention. 

In the first place, Josephine Ashton arrived, and 
with her advent the house began to seem a differ- 
ent place. It certainly was very enjoyable to have 
a bright, pretty girl, full of life and spirits, around, 
and Mr. Sherburne manifested his delight in every 
possible way. 

He had previously given orders to have two 
rooms, on the same floor with Miss Wellington, 
arranged for her use, and had exhibited far more 
interest in making them attractive than he had 
ever shown before in anything relating to his home 
since the loss of his wife. 

Josephine was keenly appreciative of his kind- 
ness, and told him, with tears in her eyes, that it 
almost seemed like coming to her own home to have 
him so thoughtful of her. She appeared to be de- 
lighted to find Miss Wellington at the head of the 
house. 

“ I began to love you, Miss W ellington, when I 
first met you, out in Colorado, during my last visit 
to auntie ; and now it gives me a real cozy feeling 


STEP BY STEP 


248 

to have you here,” she told the housekeeper when 
she went to her room to have a little chat before 
going to bed on the night of her arrival. 

“ Thank you, dear. I can understand that it 
would be a little hard for you to find an utter stran- 
ger here, and, as I am fond of young people, I have 
been looking forward with pleasure to your com- 
ing,” Miss Wellington replied with a genial smile. 

Mr. Sherburne seemed to grow young with her 
advent, and exerted himself to give her a good time, 
while he seldom returned from his business at night 
without bringing her some token of remembrance. 

Finally Josephine laughingly told him he must 
stop, or he would spoil her for earning her own 
living, for, as a hard-working schoolma’am with a 
moderate salary, she could not afford to indulge in 
such luxuries. 

“ Well, I haven’t got track of any school for you 
yet,” he told her, a sly smile hovering about his lips. 
Then he added as if the thought had just struck 
him : “ You have been at your books for a long time, 
Josie. Suppose you rest and make me a visit for a 
year or so, and we’ll ‘ paint the town red,’ as the 
boys say.” 

“ Why, Uncle John, what a tempter you are!” 
she retorted in laughing reproof. “ I’m afraid by 
the time the year was out you would have indulged 
me to the point where I should not want to teach at 
all. ~No, sir, I have got to be up and doing. I am 
getting quite anxious to know how it feels to be 
earning money for oneself.” 


STEP BY STEP 


249 

One evening, during dinner, she turned to Miss 
Wellington and remarked, her color deepening as 
she did so : 

“ I have heard that Louis Arnold has come to 
Chicago to live. Doesn’t he ever come to see you ? ” 

A slight cloud flitted over Miss Wellington’s face 
at the question. 

“ Yes, indeed, he used to come every few days; 
but it is more than a week now since I have seen 
him, and I am beginning to wonder why. Louis is 
a clerk in your uncle’s office. Has he not told 
you ? ” Then turning to Mr. Sherburne she in- 
quired : “ How is my boy getting on ? ” 

Mr. Sherburne flushed. He had imagined that 
the young man had confided in Miss Wellington 
before this, and had expected she would speak of 
the change and comment upon the stand he had 
taken. 

He now felt obliged to explain the situation, 
which he did in a way to make it appear that Louis 
had been squeamish and hypercritical in his judg- 
ment of his business methods. He prophesied, in 
conclusion, that Louis would find he had a hard row 
to hoe if he expected to go through life and never 
strain a point when he came in contact with other 
business men. 

There was an awkward pause when he concluded. 
Miss Wellington’s face wore an inscrutable expres- 
sion, and Josephine looked grave upon learning that 
her guardian and Louis were at variance. 

She had been wondering why he did not call. 


2 5 ° 


STEP BY STEP 


She had been looking forward to meeting him 
again, and now she began to fear that this break 
might keep him away altogether. 

“ What do yon mean by ‘ straining a point ’ ? ” 
Miss Wellington finally inquired. “ Do you mean 
to imply that a man cannot be successful in busi- 
ness without being dishonest ? ” 

“ That doesn’t sound very well, does it ? ” Mr. 
Sherburne returned with a forced laugh, and be- 
stowing a covert glance upon his ward. “ But, in 
these days of close competition and fierce struggles 
to make money, I believe — and I have heard others 
say the same thing — it is next to impossible to get 
along without using some sharp practice in busi- 
ness. ISTow, Miss Wellington, will quote Scripture 
to me,” he concluded turning to Josephine and 
trying to make light of the subject. 

“ I certainly shall,” promptly responded the 
housekeeper in a positive tone, yet with a gentleness 
which robbed her words of any intentional venom. 
“ ( And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, “ Ye 
shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one 
to another. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor 
nor rob him .” 9 What are we going to do with 
such commands as these? Can they be violated 
with impunity? Men may flourish for a little sea- 
son upon ill-gotten wealth — may think they have 
achieved a notable triumph in attaining financial 
success; but have they, really? Is there any real 
satisfaction in heaping up gold by robbing one’s 
neighbor? Surely not, for a day of reckoning is 


STEP BY STEP 


251 


inevitable when every wrong must be expiated.” 

As he listened John Sherburne seemed to see 
unfolding before him a panorama of his whole life 
and its results. In his youth he had begun to 
dream of becoming a rich man. Later he had 
vowed he would fulfil that dream, and he had 
made good that vow. He had become a rich man, 
according to the world’s interpretation of the term, 
and he had spent lavishly, gratifying his every de- 
sire and believed himself satisfied with results, 
happy in his possessions; and prided himself upon 
being the wonderful magician who had achieved 
it. Hever until the day of his first meeting with 
Louis had he viewed his prosperity with anything 
save the utmost complacency. Then as he had 
looked into the boy’s great brown eyes, so like an- 
other pair he recalled but too well, there had arisen 
a ghostly memory which had never ceased to haunt 
him. 

From that hour there had gradually crept into 
his consciousness a sense of dissatisfaction and un- 
rest; while an accusing voice seemed continually de- 
manding: “John Sherburne, how have you attained 
the goal you have so coveted ? ” 

To-day that question had been answered in words 
of Holy Writ. He knew that he had “ stolen,” he 
had “ dealt falsely,” he had “ defrauded and 
robbed his neighbor.” 

FTot as a common thief, however, who could be 
arraigned and convicted : oh, no ; he had done noth- 
ing so plebeian as that. The gigantic schemes, 


2 5 2 


STEP BY STEP 


wholesale swindling and shrewd manipulations 
which the world winks at, so long as the operator 
makes no false moves and evades the law, could 
not be classed under that ugly term. 

Yet he could recall instances of men ruined in 
business and thus robbed of the ability to make a 
living; of the widow and fatherless defrauded by 
bogus investments; of clerks and laborers made 
penniless, their hard earnings swallowed up by 
diabolical “ methods ” and “ systems ” cunningly 
devised to feed his own insatiable greed and that 
of others like him. 

It was not a pleasant retrospective view, and he 
found himself wondering if those last words uttered 
by Miss Wellington — “ A day of reckoning is in- 
evitable, when every wrong must be expiated ” — 
would ever cease to beat their ominous refrain 
upon his brain. 

“ You are very uncompromising in your attitude, 
Miss Wellington/’ Mr. Sherburne observed in a 
would-be-tolerant tone. Then, feeling uncomfort- 
ably conscious of the clear, grave eyes regarding 
him, he turned to his niece to avoid them, and 
smilingly inquired: 

“ What have you to say upon the subject, Josie? ” 

Josephine colored vividly as she replied: 

“ It was sharp practice that ruined papa, you 
know, Uncle John. Those agents just mesmerized 
him into buying a lot of that mining stock, and he 
lost every dollar that he put into it.” 

“True; that was a very unfortunate experience, 


STEP BY STEP 


2 53 

my dear,” Mr. Sherburne returned while he ner- 
vously crumbled a bit of bread with his fingers. 
“ But,” he added, “ your father should not have 
trusted his own judgment; he should have had ad- 
vice that I would gladly have given him.” 

“ He realized that when it was too late; but he 
never got over it,” said Josephine sadly. 

“ Well, it is pretty hard on you, too,” observed 
the gentleman, regarding her affectionately. 

“ I would rather be as I am than in the place of 
those brokers; they can’t be very happy,” gravely 
rejoined the girl. 

“ They don’t care a rap. They were after the 
money and they got it.” Mr. Sherburne did not 
realize the full significance of his remark until it 
was voiced. Then it came to him, with an inward 
shock, that out of his own mouth he had condemned 
himself; for, all his life, he had never “cared a rap ” 
about the losses of his victims so long as his coffers 
were filled. But he changed the subject after a 
moment or two of awkward silence, and, as soon as 
dinner was over, went directly to his library, where 
he spent a very uncomfortable evening, while Jo- 
sephine and Miss Wellington had a delightful call 
from Louis, without Mr. Sherburne suspecting the 
young man’s presence in the house. 

John Sherburne did not sleep well after retiring. 
That ominous refrain about the “ inevitable day of 
reckoning ” haunted him the whole night through, 
and he arose the next morning nervous and irritable. 
It galled him exceedingly, too, to feel that he had 


STEP BY STEP 


2 -f4 

been weighed in the balance and found wanting % 
Miss Wellington and Josephine. The former he 
thoroughly respected, the latter he loved; and he 
shrank from forfeiting the esteem of either, al~ 
though he knew they did not dream to what extent 
he had carried his sharp practices. 

But he had a very good day. Business was brisk, 
and certain stocks which he held took quite a leap, 
consequently he found himself in a much better 
frame of mind when the hour for closing his office 
arrived and he started for home. 

He saw his car just rounding the corner as hel 
came out of the building, so had to wait for another.: 
He bought a paper and began to glance over the 
headlines. While thus engaged he became con- 
scious that some one had paused beside him and was 
regarding him 'curiously. 

With an impatient shrug he turned to look at the 
man, when suddenly everything appeared to come 
to a stop. His heart, his pulse, his breath, even his 
sight seemed to fail him as he stared blankly back 
into the eyes that were bent with searching scrutiny 
upon his face. 

“ By the powers! If it isn’t Hate Judkins! It’s 
many a year since you and I last saw each other, 
and you’ve changed so I hardly knew you,” the 
stranger burst forth, yet with a note of doubt in 
his tones which the other was quick to catch. The 
sound of his voice broke the uncanny spell that had 
almost paralyzed the broker, and things began to 
move again. 


STEP BY STEP 


255 

John Sherburne was a man not easily thrown off 
his guard; he had been in too many tight places 
during his eventful life not to have himself pretty 
well under control, even midst the most trying cir- 
cumstances. Hence, while the man was speaking, 
he had taken a rapid survey of the situation from 
various points of view. His self -poise began to re- 
turn, and, by the time the stranger ceased speaking, 
he was ready to cross swords and defend himself to 
the last thrust. 

His face assumed an expression of well-bred sur- 
prise. A look of perplexity clouded his eyes as 
he courteously observed in his blandest tones: 

“ I think, sir, you have made a mistake. My name 
is Sherburne.” 

“ Sherburne ! ” repeated the other incredulously. 

u Yes, John Sherburne.” Drawing forth one of 
his business cards, he presented it to the man, who, 
after studying it a moment, lifted his glance and 
searched his companion’s countenance again. 

“ And you are not Nate Judkins! I could have 
sworn you were.” 

“ No. My card tells you who I am.” 

“ And were you ever in England? ” 

John Sherburne’s heart gave a startled leap. 
Should he admit or deny the fact? Then, as a 
sudden resolution took form in his mind, he replied, 
with an air of candor, not unmixed with pride: 

“ Oh, yes, several times. More than that, I am an 
Englishman by birth.” 

“Well, this beats me!” was the perplexed re- 


STEP BY STEP 


256 

joinder. “ I was sure you were the man Pve been 
looking for this many a year.” 

“ Such mistakes often occur; but in this instance 
I must resemble your friend to a marked degree,” 
said Mr. Sherburne, with an assumption of good 
humor that was still more misleading. 

“ You do and — you don’t. You’re stouter, and, 
of course, being older would change you. Your hair 
is white, and his was reddish brown when I last saw 
him; while you have the air and look of a swell, 
which didn’t belong to him at all. Still, all these 
changes might have come to you and yet you might 
be my old comrade ” 

“ Comrade! ” 

“ Yes, we were soldiers in the same company in 
the old country.” 

“ Really, this is growing exceedingly interesting,” 
observed the broker, in a tone of well-assumed sur- 
prise, yet with a whitening of the lips beneath his 
mustache. 

“ And — and what may be your name, if you 
please? ” He wondered if he could hear it and pre- 
serve his sorely tested aplomb. 

“ Dawson, sir; Joe Dawson.” 

“ Dawson — Dawson? I don’t think I ever knew 
any one by that name. So you were once an English 
soldier ! That is a singular coincidence, for I served 
as captain in Her Majesty’s Eifty-seventh more than 
thirty years ago.” 

“As captain in the Eifty-seventh! ” repeated the 
man, with a sceptical smile. “ I’ll bet you are Nate 


STEP BY STEP 


2 57 


Judkins, after all,” lie added with sudden assurance 
and an ominous scowl; “ and if Pm right then you 
are a ” 

He leaned forward and breathed the last word in 
his companion’s ear — a word which it took all John 
Sherburne’s fortitude to hear without betraying 
himself. 

But the next moment he remarked with an in- 
dulgent smile: 

“ Well, well, my friend, you seem bent upon 
changing my identity. What can I do to convince 
you that you have made a blunder? Ah!” — as if 
the thought had but just occurred to him — ■“ per- 
haps if you could see the official discharge of Cap- 
tain John Sherburne it might prove to you that 
I am not the man you seek.” 

A blank look settled upon the stranger’s face 
at this. 

“ If you could show me that, I— suppose I’d have 
to give in,” he reluctantly admitted. 

“ Then come home with me, Mr. Dawson, if you 
have the time to spare, and you shall be satisfied 
upon that point,” said Mr. Sherburne, with per- 
suasive candor. “ This matter might as well be dis- 
posed of once for all, for that was an ugly name 
you hurled at me a moment ago, and it might be 
awkward if I should chance to meet you hereafter 
and still rest under the ban of your suspicion. I see 
an uptown car is coming, and we will take it.” 

He had spoken with a cheerful assurance which 
he was far from feeling, for there had rushed over 


STEP BY STEP 


258 

him a sickening sense of the ruin, the shame and 
ignominy that must have overtaken him if he had 
obeyed his recent impulse to destroy Captain John 
Sherburne’s discharge paper, which, on the night of 
his introduction to Louis, he had feared might prove 
a witness against him, if it should ever come to light. 
Now he realized that upon it alone depended his 
salvation. 

Upon arriving home, Mr. Sherburne conducted 
his guest directly to the library and hospitably or- 
dered a bottle of wine and a box of cigars to be 
brought. Setting these before Mr. Dawson, he told 
him to help himself while he looked up the docu- 
ment. Dawson, with the eager gleam of one who 
loved his cups in his eyes, greedily availed himself 
of his opportunity, quaffing two full glasses before 
his host returned to his side and laid the important 
paper before him. 

“ There you are,” Mr. Sherburne observed in 
an offhand tone. “ That will prove to you that 
Captain John Sherburne was honorably discharged 
from Her Majesty’s service on the 16th of October, 
18 — . Take your time to examine it.” 

“ Humph ! — ‘ on account of disability,’ ” mut- 
tered Mr. Dawson, reading from the parchment. 
“ You must have been pretty badly off to get this 
before your time was up.” 

“Yes, the surgeons said there was no hope; but 
for once they were mistaken, it seems, and England 
lost an officer in the early part of his career,” ex- 
plained Mr. Sherburne as he helped himself to a 


STEP BY STEP 


259 

cigar and lighted it. 

“ You didn’t care to go back when you got well? ” 
queried his companion. 

“ No, I’d had enough of it; so with that paper 
as my voucher I made a bee line for this country, 
to try my fortune here. Not very patriotic that — 
eh, comrade'? ” 

“ Well, hard service does put a man’s patriotism 
to the test,” Mr. Dawson admitted. “I suppose there 
is no disputing the evidence of this,” he presently 
resumed as he laid the discharge upon the table and 
poured out another glass of wine for himself; “ but 
I swear you look enough like Nate Judkins to deceive 
his own mother.” 

Mr. Sherburne deliberately blew a ring of smoke 
from his mouth. 

“ Perhaps you will run across your comrade some 
time and will not then find the resemblance so 
striking. At all events, you will not be liable to 
make the 1 same mistake again,” he quietly remarked. 

Dawson made no direct reply, but his eyes studied 
the face opposite him with a look which was not 
wholly free from suspicion, in spite of the evidence 
before him. 

“ I’ll be going now,” he remarked after a moment 
of constrained silence, as he arose and set down his 
empty glass. “ Much obliged to you for your hos- 
pitality, captain, and good luck to you.” 

Mr. Sherburne accompanied his guest to the door 
and wished him “ good day,” with his most affable 


manner. 


26o 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER XIX 

After thankfully speeding his departing guest, 
John Sherburne hurried back to his library, where, 
locking the door to protect himself against intruders, 
he sank upon a chair with a face like chalk. 

“ Joe Dawson ! Joe, of all people in the world ! ” 
he gasped, after taking a moment to recover his 
breath. “ Good Lord ! After all these years ! What 
if I had destroyed that discharge ? I never could 
have allayed the man’s suspicions. Ihn not sure I 
have now, entirely; but, at least, he can prove noth- 
ing against me with that in my possession. I seem 
to be menaced from two different directions. What 
is to be the outcome ? ” 

He sat in deep thought for ten or fifteen minutes, 
his face darkening and hardening with every passing 
moment. 

“ I’m not going to be beaten as near the end of the 
trip as this,” he at last affirmed through his tightly 
compressed lips. “ I’ve staked altogether too much 
on the game I have played, and — what I have won 
I am going to keep ! But how make it secure beyond 
the possibility of loss ? ” 

At this instant there came a tap on the door. 

u It is I, Josephine, Uncle John,” said that young 
lady, her clear, musical tones making a pleasant break 
in his uncomfortable reflections. 



He sank upon a chair with a face like chalk. 


Page 260 










































STEP BY STEP 261 

The man started, his face lighting suddenly with 
a gleam of triumph. 

“ That’s the very thing. I’ll do it,” he muttered, 
as he arose and opened the door to admit his niece. 

“ Come in, come in, dear,” he said, in an eager 
voice. 

“ Not if you are busy, Uncle John. I merely came 
to tell you there is an expressman asking for you. 
He wishes you to sign for a package,” Josephine 
explained. 

“ All right. I’m not busy, so come in. I will 
be back directly, and I want to talk to you.” 

Miss Ashton nodded a smiling acquiescence as she 
entered and paced slowly up and down the long room, 
while she waited for her uncle to return. 

She made a very pleasing picture in that rich room, 
with its luxurious furniture and hangings, its costly 
hooks, pictures, rugs, and bric-a-brac. She harmo- 
nized well with her surroundings, which seemed to 
belong naturally to her. In figure she was tall and 
symmetrical and well-poised; a trifle stately in car- 
riage, deliberate, yet graceful in all her movements. 

She had a fine face. It could not be called beau- 
tiful, although it was exceedingly attractive, and peo- 
ple seldom passed her without a second glance. 

She had changed much in every way within the 
past four years. Her experience with Margaret 
Lawrence during their last year in high school had 
proved to be a turning point in her life and character. 
Then, too, misfortune and sorrow had aroused her 
to the fact that neither poverty nor wealth makes the 


262 


STEP BY STEP 


true man or woman, but the purity of purpose which 
inspires them ; and this realization had done much to 
broaden, deepen and refine her, both mentally and 
morally. Thus, higher aspirations and resolves, to- 
gether with the desire to be loved for herself, had com- 
bined to evolve a cultured and high-minded girl who 
could not fail to win the admiration and respect of 
all who knew her. 

When Mr. Sherburne returned to the room she 
whirled around, with a gay smile on her lips, to meet 
him. But she saw at once that something had gone 
wrong with him. 

“ Is anything the matter, Uncle John % ” she in- 
quired, the smile quickly fading. 


“ Well, I have had a rather trying day in some 
respects,” Mr. Sherburne replied. “ But ” — with a 
shrug of his broad shoulders, as if thus to rid him- 
self of unpleasant memories — “ we business men can- 
not escape our share of the worries of life. Come 
and sit down, J osie,” he continued, slipping his hand 
beneath her elbow and leading her to a chair. “ I 
have something important upon which I wish to con- 
sult you.” 

“ Oh ! Have you heard of a position for me ? ” 
the girl eagerly exclaimed. 

“Ho and yes,” he smilingly returned, as he seated 
himself opposite her. “How listen, and don’t ask 
me a single question until I have had my say.” 

“ I won’t if I can help it, only don’t keep me in 


STEP BY STEP 263 

suspense too long. You know a woman’s curiosity 
is proverbial/’ Josephine roguishly retorted. 

“ I do not need to remind you, dear, that I am all 
alone in the world,” her companion gravely resumed. 
“ I do not know that I have a single relative living. 
It was always a bitter disappointment to both your 
aunt and me that we had no children of our own. 
As you know, we grew to love you almost as well as 
if you really belonged to us, and I once asked your 
father to give you to me. Of course he wouldn’t lis- 
ten to such an arrangement, though he was willing 
to spare you on long visits to us occasionally. Now 
you have been left alone; you have also been bereft 
of home and fortune, and, having been delicately 
reared, you are not fitted to cope with the world 
single-handed. In view of all this I am going to 
propose that you allow me to legally adopt you as 
my daughter.” 

“ Uncle John! ” cried Josephine, in almost breath- 
less surprise. 

“ Wait until you hear all,” he interposed. “ I 
will not ask you to take my name, for, at your age, 
that would be awkward for both you and your friends. 
I only ask you to give me the privilege of feeling that 
you really belong to me, that I may have some one 
to care for and love during the remainder of my life 
— some one who will feel an interest in and perhaps 
something of affection for me. Cannot you under- 
stand, Josie, that I am a lonely old man, and yearn 
for some one in my home to bid me ‘ good-speed ’ 
when I go out and welcome me when I return? I 


STEP BY STEP 


264 

know you are proud-spirited and ambitious to do 
something for yourself; but cannot you accept this 
as your work — your mission — at least until some one 
younger and more attractive comes along to claim you 
and make you mistress of his home ? You shall not 
be burdened in any way. Miss Wellington, who is 
a jewel in spite of her preaching, shall remain to 
manage the house as usual — that is, if such an ar- 
rangement would be agreeable to you.” 

“ I think Miss Wellington is lovely,” said J oseph- 
ine, with kindling eyes. u And I like her * preach- 
ing/ as you call it — there is something so practical 
and wholesome about it. But, Uncle John, I have 
always been an idler and pleasure-seeker — at least 
until I went to V assar — and I have really wanted to 
see if it is in me to amount to something in the world 
through my own elforts. If I stay here, amid all 
this luxury, with you to pet and pamper me, I am 
afraid I shall drift back to the old aimless, selfish 
way of living, and — I don’t want to,” she concluded 
wistfully. 

u Suppose your father had not lost his money, you 
would not — even with your desire for something bet- 
ter than pleasure and social position — have felt it 
necessary to go into active business or professional 
life, in order to prove that you could amount to some- 
thing in the world,” argued Mr. Sherburne. 

“ No, I suppose not,” she said reflectively. “ Yet 
I think I should have wished to have some worthy 
object in life.” 

Exactly; and now you can have an opportunity 


STEP BY STEP 


265 

to choose what that shall be,” said her companion; 
“ for it was only a question of time,” anyway, when 
you would have become a wealthy girl, Josephine. 
Ever since misfortune overtook you it has been my 
intention to leave you handsomely provided for ; but, 
more recently, I have decided to make you my sole 
heir, and whether you accede to my proposition or 
not, you will eventually be mistress of all I possess, 
which is no small amount. I am not telling you this 
to place you under any obligation. It is not a bribe, 
my dear; it is simply that I must make some dis- 
position of my property, and as you are nearer my 
heart than anyone else, I have settled the matter in 
this way. So, now, if you feel that you can remain 
and be a daughter to me — a bit of sunshine in the 
house — it will be a great comfort to me.” 

Josephine was deeply moved. This information, 
together with the proposition of adoption, had come 
as a great surprise to her. It would be delightful 
to feel that she was no longer alone in the world; 
that with a kind and genial guardian to love and 
protect her, and with plenty of money at her com- 
mand, she need have no further anxiety about her 
future. 

And yet, with the feeling of relief which such a 
prospect afforded here, there was a sense of disap- 
pointment in the thought of relinquishing her own 
plans to prove her mettle and ability to support her- 
self. 

If she refused to comply with her uncle’s request 
it would really make no difference, except tempo- 


266 


STEP BY STEP 


rarity, perhaps, for he had settled the question as 
to how he would dispose of his fortune; it would be 
hers eventually, and it would almost seem like rank 
ingratitude not to try to make him some return, by 
ministering to his comfort and happiness during the 
remainder of his life. 

Then, too, if she persisted in becoming a teacher, 
now that there no longer existed the necessity for 
supporting herself, would she not be wilfully robbing 
some poor girl of a much-needed position and its 
compensation ? 

She tried to look at the matter from every point 
of view. But at length she lifted a bright face and 
a pair of happy eyes to her companion. 

“ You have clipped my wings before I had a chance 
to try them, Uncle John,” she smilingly observed; 
“ and since I cannot fly away, as I had planned, it 
behooves me to settle gracefully down in my gilded 
cage and try to he the good and obedient daughter 
you wish.” 

“ I hope you will not feel — caged, Josie,” said 
the man in a doubtful tone. 

u Oh, dear, no ! That was only a figure of speech, 
Uncle John, for this beautiful home is so much bet- 
ter than any I ever expected to have again. It will 
he lovely to feel that it is realty mine, and that you 
have taken me into your heart as well ; and if, as you 
say, I can make your life brighter and happier I shall 
feel that I am doing some good in the world, and it 
will he a delightful arrangement as far as I am con- 


STEP BY STEP 267 

cerned.” She was so bright and animated as she 
concluded that Mr. Sherburne was reassured. 

“ And you will consent to be legally adopted ? ” he 
inquired, with repressed eagerness. 

“ Do you think such formalities necessary ? ” she 
asked. 

Somehow this phase of the plan did not quite please 
her; it almost seemed like signing away her iden- 
tity to enter into such a compact. 

“ It would make everything more secure for you, 
and would at once establish you in a definite social 
position here in Chicago,” Mr. Sherburne returned. 
“ Moreover, I am rather doubtful of wills and leav- 
ing other people to administer them. So, to fix the 
matter right and tight, I am going to settle my prop- 
erty upon you at once, reserving only the power of 
trustee for myself. In this way I can have the satis- 
faction of knowing that nobody can ever deprive you 
of your inheritance. Hot even that fine young chap, 
who may come along some day to claim you, will be 
able to touch it without your consent,” he concluded 
jocosely. 

Josephine flushed consciously at this roguish fling, 
and then was nettled because she had done so; for 
it had caused her thoughts to turn to Louis Arnold, 
who only, she had long felt, would ever have any 
claim upon her heart. He alone was her ideal, her 
model, of what a man should be. Since coming to 
Chicago and meeting him again she realized that 
her admiration and regard for him were on the in- 


268 


STEP BY STEP 


crease, and she found herself yearning to awaken a 
responsive chord in his estimate of her. 

But of course she had allowed nothing of this to 
become apparent to others, and she now strove to 
control her rising color at Mr. Sherburne’s jest, and 
responded with ready compliance : 

Very well, Uncle John, I know nothing about 
legal points, but you may do whatever you think 
best. I certainly am very grateful and happy in 
view of all your kindness to me, and now I am 
sure I shall never again feel so sad and lonely as I 
have felt during the last year.” 

She held out both hands to him, tears brimming 
her eyes as she concluded. 

He arose and drew her to him, clasping her hands 
with one of his and laying his other arm lightly 
about her shoulders. 

“ I am more than happy,” he said. “ The world 
will seem much brighter to me if I can keep you 
with me, Josie. And now, dear, .remember we are 
to be exactly like father and daughter in our future 
relations. If you want anything, you are to ask 
for it just as freely as if you had always belonged 
here: there is plenty of money, and the more you 
spend in making yourself and others — if you are 
inclined to charitable deeds — happy, the better I 
shall like it. Do you understand ? ” 

The girl laughed to keep herself from weeping, 
for in this kind and generous mood he made her 
think of her own father, who had always been very 
tender with her. 


STEP BY STEP 


269 

“ All right / 7 she said, trying to speak lightly. 
“ And to put you to the test I am going to begin 
right now . 77 

“ Good for you ! What is it ? 77 

“ I want to invite a friend to spend the Christmas 
holidays with me and give her the best time of her 
life . 77 

“ You couldn’t please me better. Fill the house 
with young people if you like, and be as gay as you 
choose / 7 he heartily returned. 

“ No, I only want one for Christmas. She is my 
dearest friend, and I 7 m not going to share her with 
anybody else this time. There, see how selfishness 
crops out with the first temptation ! I told you you 
would spoil me ! 77 

And yet it was a happy little laugh that followed 
the words. • 

“ I will risk it. But who is this dearest friend ? 77 
inquired the broker. 

“ Margaret Lawrence. We were classmates in 
high school, and I spent a week with her after I 
left Vassar . 77 

“ Then of course you owe her the visit. Send 
for her by all means, and right away, or she may 
make some other engagement / 7 said Mr. Sherburne 
as eagerly as if it had been his own particular friend 
who was coming. “ And now let us see / 7 he added, 
seating himself at his desk and producing his check 
book, “ I must not shirk any of my responsibilities. 
My adopted daughter must be supplied with her first 
month’s allowance to seal the compact . 77 


STEP BY STEP 


270 

He filled in a slip for a generous amount and 
passed it over to her. She flushed sensitively as she 
glanced at it. 

“ Pm afraid you are too lavish, Uncle John,” she 
began in a repressed tone. 

“ Tut — tut ! You are not to criticise your sire’s 
expenditures, and he won’t question yours. Put it 
in your purse and later I’ll arrange for you to have 
a check book of your own.” 

“ Thank you, Uncle J ohn,” she said gratefully, 
his matter-of-fact tone and manner at once reliev- 
ing her embarrassment. Then as her glance fell 
upon a paper lying spread out upon the table, she 
exclaimed curiously : “ Oh, what is this, stamped 
with the English coat-of-arms ? and on parchment, 
too ! Why ! ” as her quick eye swept the sheet, 
“ were you ever a soldier and a captain?” 

John Sherburne frowned, and an icy chill went 
prickling through him. lie seemed to be ill-fated 
of late, he thought, regarding this secret which he 
had preserved intact for so many years, and he felt 
irritated because he had not immediately returned 
the document to his safe after the departure of 
his recent guest. How there would have to be more 
lying to explain the situation, and this consciousness 
sadly marred his satisfaction in the compact just 
concluded. But he quickly recovered himself. 

“ Yes, when I was a young man I served for a 
time in the English army, and that is my discharge. 
I was showng it to an old comrade this afternoon,” 


STEP BY STEP 


271 

he replied, as if it were a matter of no special 
interest. 

He gently took the parchment from her and de- 
posited it in his safe, glad to get it ont of sight. He 
then began to talk of the prospective visit of Mar- 
garet Lawrence, and of various plans for her enter- 
tainment, and the discharge was for the time for- 
gotten. 

Very shortly after this the necessary steps were 
taken to legalize the adoption of Miss Josephine 
Ashton by Mr. John Sherburne, immediately fol- 
lowing which the latter proceeded to settle the bulk 
of his property upon his new daughter. 

When these important matters were adjusted 
the man experienced a sense of intense relief, and 
congratulated himself that he had accomplished 
the coup de maitre which would insure them both 
a future of ease and luxury — let come what would. 

Meantime a letter from Josephine went flying 
East to her friend Margaret Lawrence, telling her 
of the wonderful change in her prospects, and plead- 
ing for the holiday visit. Inclosed in the envelope 
with it there was a through ticket from Boston 
to Chicago, concerning which Josephine wrote: 

“ It is my Christmas gift to you, dear, so do not 
disappoint me, for I am longing for you with all 
my heart. I know the change will do you good, and 
you will go back to school feeling a hundred per 
cent, better prepared to finish out the year.” 


2 7 2 


STEP BY STEP 


Margaret responded with grateful acknowledg- 
ments and acceptance, and also wrote some news 
that was both a joy and a surprise to Josephine. 

“ Mother and Ted are going to Chicago to live, 
on or about the first of January. Ted has had a 
fine offer from a firm there, and after considering 
the pros and cons we have thought best to make 
our home there. I shall, of course, complete my 
year here at Smith, but, meantime, Ted is to be on 
the lookout for a position for me in or near Chi- 
cago, for we cannot be separated. Ted says his 
salary will be sufficient to support us all, and I 
need not work; but, having fitted myself for teach- 
ing, and having a real love for it, I am going to stick 
to it, at least for the present. However, we will 
talk more of my plans when I come to you. I shall 
leave Boston at nine, via B. & A. B. B., Friday 
evening, December 2 2d, and you will know "where 
and at what hour to meet me Saturday night. How, 
my dear, au revoir. Lovingly, Margaret/' 


STEP BY STEP 


m 


CHAPTER XX 

16 Margaret Lawrence coming here for a two 
weeks’ visit! ” 

The speaker was Louis Arnold, who was making 
his usual weekly call upon Aunt Martha. 

Miss Wellington had been telling him of Jose- 
phine 1 ^ invitation to her friend, with something of 
the plans for her entertainment and the approaching 
holidays, and the quick flush that swept to his brows, 
the swift gleam of joy that leaped into his eyes, to- 
gether with the tender thrill in his voice as he spoke 
the girl’s name, at once revealed to his companion 
the sweet, long-cherished hope of his life which he 
believed was, as yet, safely locked within the most 
secret recesses of his heart. 

“ Yes, she will arrive a fortnight from to-night, 
and no doubt you will be glad to meet your class- 
mate while she is with us,” demurely observed the 
lady, yet with a gleam of amusement in her eyes 
which told Louis that he had betrayed more than 
he had intended. 

“ I certainly shall,” he said, “ and, Aunt Martha,” 
the flush deepening on his cheek as he suddenly felt 
impelled to confide in her — “ I am sure you will 
like Miss Lawrence. I hope you mil. I may as well 
tell you I think she is the finest girl I ever saw; just 


2 74 


STEP BY STEP 


the kind that would make an all-around companion 
for life,” he slyly admitted, growing bolder as he 
progressed in his confidence. “ I’ve told you some- 
thing about her before — she is Gypsy, you know,” 
he resumed, “ and the girl who led our class in 
high. I was strongly tempted during my vacation 
a year ago last summer to sound her a little regard- 
ing her opinion of your humble servant, but I had 
no definite plans for my future in mind at that time, 
and I thought it would be hardly fair to make any 
advances until I had something besides my empty 
hands to offer with my he'art.” 

“ That was right,” said Miss Wellington with an 
approving nod. “ You certainly do try to govern 
your life by principle, dear boy. And Miss Law- 
rence has no suspicion of your regard for her? ” 

“ I can’t quite vouch for that,” replied Louis, col- 
oring again, as he recalled two or thre'e occasions 
when his secret had very nearly escaped him. “ But 
I have never spoken outright to her. 

“ Now, however,” he resumed, “ I feel that I am 
pretty sure what I am going to do. I like the lum- 
ber business ; it is a good, clean, substantial business, 
even though there are some rough experiences con- 
nected with it. I like Mr. Buskirk; he is queer, 
but he is honest to the core, and we fit in together 
as if we had been made for each other; and the first 
of January he is going to double my wages.” 

“ Double your pay! That is an unusual raise, 
isn’t it? ” queried Miss Wellington in surprise. 
u Yes, it is; but I’ve tried to make myself useful. 


STEP BY STEP 


2 75 


I have been to the mills twice with him and have 
got a pretty thorough knowledge of how things arei 
going there. I made a suggestion, too, that sim- 
plified the handling of some of the lumber and 
which pleased him greatly; and yesterday he told 
me what I might expect at the beginning of the 
year.” 

“ I am very much pleased,” said his friend ap- 
preciatively. 

“ So you see, Aunt Martha,” Louis continued, “ I 
feel that by the end of another twelve months I 
will be worth still more to him and get another raise; 
and perhaps it would not be too presumptuous of me 
to put my fate with Margaret to the test pretty soon. 
What do you think? ” 

Miss Wellington laid her hand affectionately upon 
the young man’s shoulder. 

“ Thank you, my boy, for giving me your con- 
fidence,” she said. “ Regarding Miss Lawrence, I 
hear nothing but good of her from Josephine; and, 
as I am pretty sure I can safely trust your judgment 
in a matter which so vitally concerns your happi- 
ness, and your prospects seem favorable, I will sim- 
ply quote an old proverb to you — ‘ Faint heart 
never won fair lady.’ ” 

Louis threw back his head with a light-hearted 
laugh. 

“ How helpful you always are ! I never go away 
empty when I come to you for counsel,” he said, 
giving her a bright, fond look. “ And this is such 
acceptable advice, too,” he added contentedly. 


STEP BY STEP 


276 

“ It almost seems as if we were back in Hew Hamp- 
shire and you were really ‘ my boy ’ again, to have 
you come to me with your plans, hopes and fears.” 
And Miss Wellington affectionately stroked his arm 
as she used to do in the old days when they had their 
little confidential talk. 

“ I am always going to be your ‘ boy/ Aunt Mar- 
tha, and you know that you are booked for your 
own special niche in my home, just as soon as that 
coveted place is established,” he eagerly affirmed. 

“ That is very nice of you, Louis, but you know 
I never encouraged you in building castles in Spain, 
so I think we will wait awhile before we talk about 
that,” smilingly responded his friend. 

Again he laughed buoyantly. 

“We will wait just one month, Aunt Martha,” 
he retorted, with a sly smile, “ for, acting upon the 
spirit of your proverb, I shall have learned some- 
thing definite by that time. But ” — and he grew 
suddenly grave — “ if I fail to win Margaret I shall 
want a home just the same and I shall need you 
all the more.” 

“ Aren’t your forebodings a little premature, 
Louis, not to mention your plans to follow their 
fulfilment ? ” queried Miss Wellington with a 
roguish sparkle in her eyes that made him laugh 
again. “ How tell me,” she went on abruptly, 
changing the subject, “ have you ever looked over 
those old letters that belonged to your mother? ” 

“Ho; I sent for that box of things after we had 
that other talk about them; but, somehow, the right 



They were being stealthily followed by a tall figure clad in a dark gray ulster. 

Page 277 



















































STEP BY STEP 


2 77 

time has never seemed to come to examine them — 
it strikes me that it isli’t a very pleasant thing to do, 
to read letters written by people who are gone,” 
Louis returned. 

“ But I think you ought; there may be something 
connected with the lives of your father and mother 
which might be to your interest to know,” said Miss 
Wellington. 

“ Suppose you look them over for me, Aunt 
Martha,” he pleaded. “ If you find anything of im- 
portance you can save it out for me, though I am 
inclined to think they might as well be burned first 
as last/* 

“ No, indeed; bring them to me and I will read 
them carefully for you. You would make a great 
mistake to burn them,” prophetically objected Miss 
Wellington. 

K All right, I will send them around in a day or 
two and you can take your own time,” Louis re- 
sponded as he arose to take his leave. 

Two weeks slipped quickly by, and late on Satur- 
day evening John Sherburne and Josephine drove to 
the station to meet their expected guest as pre- 
viously arranged. They had to wait a little for the 
train and, arm in arm, paced the platform to pass 
the time. 

They appeared to be very happy — as indeed they 
were in their netv relationship — ehatting and laugh- 
ing in the most social manner and wholly tmcon- 
scious that they were being stealthily followed by 


STEP BY STEP 


278 

a tall figure clad in a dark gray ulster and wearing a 
slouch hat drawn down over his eyes. 

After walking to the end of the platform they 
turned and slowly retraced their steps, which neces- 
sitated their passing the man referred to. As they 
came close up with him he suddenly tipped back his 
hat, revealing a flushed and bloated face, and, 
slapping Mr. Sherburne familiarly on the' shoulder, 
exclaimed in a thick, tipsy voice: 

“How d’y, Eate Judkins? I ? m blamed if I don’t 
believe you’re my man after all! ” 

John Sherburne felt a sudden contraction of his 
throat, as if a relentless hand had clutched him 
there, shutting off his breath for the moment. But 
he knew that everything depended upon his main- 
taining his self-possession. Let him make but a 
single false move and he was lost. 

He turned with an air of mild surprise to the man 
and blandly observed: 

“ You have made a mistake, my friend ; I don’t 
know any such person. All the same, if there is any- 
thing I can do for you I shall be glad to oblige you.” 

The stranger searched the clean-shaven, aristo- 
cratic face for a moment, hesitated, changed the 
position of his hat, then meeting Josephine’s won- 
dering eyes drew back, muttering an incoherent 
apology, and slunk away. 

“ Why! what did he mean, Uncle John, by calling 
you by that name? ” the girl inquired as they re- 
sumed their interrupted walk. 

“ I doubt if he knows himself what he meant,” 


STEP BY STEP 


2 79 

Mr. Sherburne replied in a tolerant tone. “ He is 
a poor tipsy fellow, who evidently mistook me for 
some one else. There! I think the train is coming 
in, and just two minutes behind its time,” he con- 
cluded as he wheeled his companion around and 
hurried her toward the approaching express, but 
hurling mental anathemas upon the fate that had 
caused that delay of two minutes and had plunged 
him into such an awkward predicament in the pres- 
ence of his adopted daughter. 

Another minute and Josephine and Margaret were 
in each other’s arms, simultaneously voicing glad 
greetings and fond inquiries with characteristic girl- 
ish fervor and delight. 

When these were over Josephine introduced her 
uncle, who cordially expressed his pleasure in having 
Miss Lawrence come to them. A few minutes later 
they were on their way uptown, where Miss Welling- 
ton had a dainty lunch ready to serve them. 

Space will not permit a detailed account of the 
two weeks that followed. Something delightful had 
been planned for every day, while the evenings were 
devoted to grand opera and various other attractions, 
with now and then a pleasant little affair at home. 

Two nights of every week Mr. Sherburne spent 
at his club, also Sunday afternoons, and upon those 
occasions Josephine tactfully arranged to include 
Louis in their party. True, Mr. Sherburne had never 
objected to the young man’s visits to either Miss Wel- 
lington or his ward, yet it was evident to Josephine 
that he did not wish to meet Louis if he could avoid 


280 STEP BY STEP 

doing so; hence the girl’s desire to steer clear of 
awkward situations. 

Miss Wellington was called upon to act as chaper- 
on at such times, and was in her element, declaring 
she felt almost like a girl herself, and had never had 
such a good time in her life. 

She not only enjoyed the companionship of the 
young people, but possessed the happy faculty of 
adapting herself to them, and with her keen, though 
quiet spirit of humor, she was excellent company. 

She was the more glad to avail herself of these 
opportunities because she wished to study, from 
every point of view, the maiden upon whom her 
“ boy ” had staked his future happiness. 

Margaret Lawrence had developed into a very beau- 
tiful girl. She was not brilliant or striking like 
J osephine ; but one could not remain in her presence 
half an hour without becoming conscious of a cheeri- 
ness and sweetness of disposition, a purity of thought, 
and a conscientious regard for all that was good and 
true, which seemed to give promise of a harmonious 
and useful life wherever her lot might be cast. 

Miss Wellington could find no fault with her, and, 
as it soon became evident that the attraction between 
Margaret and Louis was mutual, she felt sure that, 
when the right opportunity presented itself, the 
young man would not stie in vain for the love he 
coveted. 

At the same time she was soinewhat appalled to 
discover that Josephine was manifesting peculiar 
symptoms in view of similar convictions, even though 


STEP BY STEP 


281 


she spared no effort or expense to make her friend’s 
visit as delightful as possible, and bravely strove to 
conceal the fierce struggle which was going on within 
her own heart, as she realized what the probable re- 
sult of Margaret’s visit would be. 

On New Year’s morning there came a package by 
express to each of the three ladies in Mr. Sherburne’s 
household. They were all the same size, and upon 
examination were found to contain exquisite bunches 
of long-stemmed roses, each a duplicate of the other 
except in color. Miss Wellington’s were pure white, 
Josephine’s pink, and Margaret’s a rich, glowing 
crimson; and to each was attached a card bearing 
the name of Louis Arnold, with the compliments of 
the season. 

“ How lovely of Mr. Arnold ! ” exclaimed Mar- 
garet, as she buried her glowing face among the vivid 
blossoms. In so doing she dislodged a tiny envelope 
which had been adroitly concealed in their midst, 
and which now fell fluttering to the floor in full view 
of her companions. 

With conscious blushes suffusing her sweet face 
she stooped to recover it, while Miss Wellington, 
keenly observant of the situation, saw Josephine 
sharply catch her breath as her color suddenly faded, 
leaving her startlingly pale. 

“ Yes, Louis is always Very thoughtful,” Miss Wel- 
lington hastened to remark ; “ and see ! ” she added, 
to draw attention to herself and so Cover Josephine’s 
agitation. “ lie has been especially partial to me 
to-day.” She held up a pocketbook having a gold 


282 


STEP BY STEP 


clasp, on which her initials were graven, as she con- 
cluded. 

This little tactful ruse gave Josephine an oppor- 
tunity to recover herself, and she immediately rose 
to the occasion. 

“ That is a beauty !” she said, going quickly to 
her side, as if eager to inspect the gift. “ And you 
needed it, dear Miss Wellington,” she added, with 
a faint smile. 

“ Yes, I know it. The last time I went out with 
Louis he said he was ashamed of my old one, and 
asked me to keep it out of sight.” A little burst of 
happy laughter rippled over the woman’s lips as she 
opened her treasure to investigate its numerous com- 
partments. 

“ And he has sent you white roses, too ; nothing 
else would have been quite the thing for you,” mur- 
mured Margaret, as her eyes wandered from the 
snowy blooms to the pure, refined face above them. 
“ And, Josie, your pink ones are superb,” she con- 
cluded, stooping to inhale the fragrance of the offer- 
ing to her friend. 

“ Yes — and I must put them in water,” replied 
Josephine, as she turned abruptly away to get a vase, 
in which, after ringing for water to fill it, she ar- 
ranged her flowers, and left it for a centerpiece on 
the large table in the drawing-room. 

Margaret, however, carried her bouquet away to 
her own room, and that evening when she was dressed 
for the little New Year’s reception which Josephine 
was giving in her honor, and which included the 


STEP BY STEP 


283 

Richardses and Westons, together with some ac- 
quaintances which she had recently made, she fas- 
tened one glowing, perfect blossom among the fluffy 
lace ruffles of her corsage. 

“ Love’s answer to Love’s offering,” said Joseph- 
ine to herself, with a sickening sense of loss which 
held her in thrall throughout the evening, making 
her duties as hostess well-nigh unbearable, particu- 
larly when her glance chanced to rest upon the lovers’ 
happy faces. 

No one suspected the truth save Miss Wellington, 
whose heart yearned to comfort the suffering gtrl, 
and even she did not dream of the battle which Jo- 
sephine afterwards fought out alone in the silence and 
darkness of her own room, and which lasted until 
the gray dawn of morning began to creep into the 
eastern sky. 

When the girl came resolutely face to face with 
the blighting fact that she and Margaret both loved 
Louis Arnold, and asked herself what was to be the 
outcome of the situation, she was appalled to find 
herself confronted by a couple of ugly dragons, bit- 
ter jealousy and vindictiveness, which she believed 
she had long since slain — dragons of that old school 
feud when Margaret had led her class and despoiled 
her of her coveted honors. 

Could she bear it to have her rival rob her now of 
what she had fondly hoped would be the crowning 
glory of her life? If it had been anyone else, she 
thought it would not have seemed quite so hard. 

Could they continue to be friends, or must they 


STEP BY STEP 


284 

become lifelong foes because of this? Should she 
allow resentment, hatred, and self-love to take pos- 
session of her once more and sweep out of exist- 
ence the beautiful friendship of the last five years, 
thus marring the happiness of Margaret, who was 
guiltless of wrong toward her, and casting an even 
deeper blight upon her own future? What would 
she gain by such a course? Would it bring Louis 
nearer to her — would it even help her in any way 
to bear this sorrow and disappointment which had 
overtaken her so unawares? 

These were some of the searching questions 
which confronted her in the darkness and silence 
of that first night of the New Year, and there 
finally came to her the realization that there could 
be but one conclusion of the whole matter. She 
had once risen superior to such unworthy traits, 
and she could never sink to their level again. Such 
a retrograde step could only result in a sense of 
the loss of something very dear and sweet out of 
her life, in losing Margaret; in a feeling of scorn 
from the man whom she loved, together with end- 
less humiliation and contempt for herself and — 
she must conquer self again. With this she fell asleep, 
and did not waken until Miss Wellington tapped 
upon her door and inquired if she had overslept and 
missed hearing the breakfast-bell. 

The next few days loomed up like ages before 
her, for it seemed as if she could not perform the 
duties devolving upon her, wear a brave front and 
make no sign. Margaret was not to leave until 


STEP BY STEP 285 

Friday morning, and Josephine lived in constant 
dread of a confidential disclosure from her. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty well filled 
with engagements and passed quickly. Thursday 
morning there was a round of shopping, and Mrs. 
Richards had claimed them for the afternoon and 
evening. 

This little visit was like a benediction after the 
excitement of the past two weeks. It was like the 
reunion of a loving family whose aims and hopes 
were one; who were at peace with each other and 
all mankind; whose restful happiness and freedom 
from all anxious thought were founded upon some- 
thing higher than the pleasures and prosperity of this 
world. Even Josephine was soothed by the har- 
monious atmosphere surrounding her and sighed re- 
gretfully when the hour for leave-taking arrived. 

Louis accompanied the ladies home, where, leav- 
ing his coat and hat in the hall, he followed Mar- 
garet into the drawing-room with an air of quiet as- 
surance which told its own story. 

Miss Wellington, as if blissly unconscious of any- 
thing unusual in the procedure, mounted the stairs 
to the second floor. Josephine, also taking the hint, 
slipped up after her, and!, with a brief u good- 
night,” disappeared within her own room. 

An hour later she heard the hall door close, and 
presently there came a gentle tap on her own. She 
had been nerving herself for this last confidential 
talk with Margaret, and was outwardly calm as 
she admitted her friend, and smiled archly into 


286 STEP BY STEP 

the sweet face that was covered with conscious 
blushes. 

“ I know what you have come to tell me, dear/’ 
Josephine observed, thus forestalling the prospect- 
ive confession. “ I have been expecting to hear it 
every day for a week.” 

“ Why, Josie, have you, really ? ” exclaimed 
Margaret. “ What made you suspect ? I ” 

“ One didn’t need to consult an oracle in order 
to receive confirmation of what was patent to every- 
body from the outset,” playfully responded Jo- 
sephine as Margaret paused from embarrassment. 

“ Well, of course, I couldn’t tell anyone here 
until I had written mamma and Ted to find out what 
they thought about it,” Margaret explained apolo- 
getically. “ You see,” she resumed, “ Louis and I 
have been fond of each other for years, but nothing 
definite has ever been said until I came here. When 
he called New Year’s afternoon — you were prac- 
tising those duets with Mr. Welton — he told me, 
but I could give him no promise until I heard from 
home. This morning I had my letter. Mamma 
and Ted are both delighted, and so ” 

“ So Louis came in to-night to get his final an- 
swer,” supplemented Josephine, as her companion 
again found it difficult to proceed. 

For reply Margaret held out her left hand, on 
which there shone a small but clear white stone, 
very prettily set. 

“ Well, it seems he was serenely confident of re- 
sults, and came prepared to take immediate posses- 


STEP BY STEP 


287 

sion of his prize/’ returned Josephine, forcing a 
light laugh to her lips. 

u Yes, I suppose we both felt that writing to 
mamma was only a matter of form, for she has 
known and admired Louis for a long while; but 
of course we owed her the courtesy of asking her 
sanction; and now I am telling you first of all.” 
And Margaret caught her friend to her in a loving 
embrace. 

The die was cast, and Josephine, having herself 
well in hand by this time, was able to listen while 
the unsuspicious girl told her something of her re- 
cent interview with Louis and his plans for their 
future. 

They would have to wait a couple of years be- 
fore they could make a home for themselves, she 
said; until Louis was more thoroughly established 
in business. Meantime she would continue to teach, 
and she hoped she would be able to secure a posi- 
tion there in Chicago. 

It was fully midnight before Margaret realized 
that she had a long journey before her on the mor- 
row, and was also keeping her friend from her rest. 

She bade Josephine a loving “ good-night,” and 
went to her own room to dream of her present hap- 
piness and the joys awaiting her; while Josephine 
spent another night in mortal combat with the giant 
—Self. 


288 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER XXI 

The next morning Margaret bade an affectionate 
farewell to her friends, expressing her appreciation 
of all they had done to make her visit enjoyable, and 
turned her face once more toward Boston, where- 
upon life in John Sherburne’s home settled back 
into its usual routine. 

But a great change in Josephine soon became 
apparent. Now that the necessity for dissembling 
was past the reaction came, and she seemed to have 
neither courage nor strength to resist it. 

She had believed that she had fought her battle 
to the end, on New Year’s night, upon discovering 
that Louis and Margaret had come to a definite 
understanding; but day after day the struggle was 
renewed until she almost despaired of ever rising 
above it. 

“ Did I ever really conquer self?” she sighed. 
“Was that experience of the old school days an 
actual victory or did I only superficially embrace 
an ideal that attracted me for the time ? Were the 
jealousy and selfishness of my nature really over- 
come, or were they simply covered up, glossed over 
for a while, only to break forth with more malig- 
nant force upon another seeming provocation? Did 
I ever really love Margaret? Have I ever been a 


STEP BY STEP 


289 

true friend to her— true enough to be willing to 
trample self under foot for her sake, to renounce 
all I hold most dear to make her happy? Can I do 
this now, so completely, so utterly that no sting 
of bitterness will be left to rankle and my love be 
just as spontaneous as it has seemed during the last 
five years? It must be that or nothing; for, as 
Miss Wellington says, ‘ anything short of absolute 
right is absolute wrong.’ Am I equal to it? Oh, 
I do not know, I cannot tell- — yet.” 

Thus the conflict raged within Josephine’s 
wounded heart, while she grew strangely morbid 
and indifferent to all that was going on around her. 
Both Mr. Sherburne and Miss Wellington began 
to be quite exercised in view of her condition. Miss 
Wellington thought she understood what was the 
trouble; but she felt that it was too delicate a matter 
to be meddled with unless the girl voluntarily gave 
her confidence and sought her counsel and sympathy. 
She was, however, very tender and thoughtful to- 
ward Josephine and shielded her in every possible 
way when her uncle became too inquisitive and 
solicitous. 

Mr. Sherburne proposed a trip to Southern Cali- 
fornia and Mexico, hoping that change of air and 
scene would be beneficial. But Josephine said she 
did not care to travel; she preferred the comforts 
and quiet of home. She well knew that, go where 
she would, she could never get away from the ques- 
tion at issue — the question whether she would con- 
quer or he conquered. 


2go 


STEP BY STEP 


One dismal, stormy day, feeling more than usu- 
ally depressed and intolerant of her troublesome 
thoughts, Josephine 1 took her work-basket and went 
across the hall to Miss Wellington’s room, with the 
hope of forgetting herself for awhile in -the society 
of another. 

“ Come in, dear,” said a gentle voice from within 
— a voice which always seemed to carry with it a 
“ peace be unto you.” 

Entering, Josephine found the woman seated in 
the wide, sunny bay window engaged in looking over 
a box of old letters. 

“ You are busy,” she said and pausing upon the 
threshold as she saw the nature of Miss Welling- 
ton’s occupation. 

“No, dear, I am nearly' through; so come right 
in,” cordially responded Miss Wellington, adding: 
“ These are some letters that belonged to Louis’ 
mother and which he never felt any desire to ex- 
amine. He wanted to burn them, but I thought 
they ought to be looked over first and he begged 
me to do it for him. I haven’t found anything of 
special interest yet excepting perhaps some corre- 
spondence which, I judge, may have passed between 
his grandfather and grandmother on his mother’s 
side, as they both refer to ‘ our daughter Annie.’ 
The letters were written in England many years 
ago. There are also some others from his father, 
evidently penned to his mother before their mar- 
riage.” 

“ Then Louis’ mother was an English lady? ” jo- 


STEP BY STEP 


291 

sephine observed in a tone of interest, as she drew 
up a rocker beside her companion. 

“ Yes, she was born in England, but came to this 
country when quite young.’’ 

“ What was her maiden name? ” the girl inquired, 
more for the sake of -saying something than because 
she really cared to know. 

“ Annie Judkins,” replied Miss Wellington as 
she took another letter from its envelope and un- 
folded it. 

Josephine felt as if she had received an electric 
shock as the name fell upon her ears, and instantly 
the incident which had occurred in the station while 
she and Mr. Sherburne had been waiting to meet 
Margaret flashed through her mind. 

“ Judkins!” she repeated musingly; “ I wonder 
if she could have been related to a man named Nate 
or Nathan Judkins.” 

Miss Wellington looked up in surprise from the 
sheet she was perusing. 

“ I am sure I don’t know. No such name -appears 
in any of these letters,” she said. “ These, which I 
surmise were written by her father to her mother, 
bear no surname; they are simply signed ‘ John.’ 
Here is one now,” she continued as she glanced 
at the signature of another epistle she had just 
opened, “ and the man wrote a very round, clear 
hand.” 

Then Miss Wellington herself experienced a 
sudden shock as it dawned upon her that the chirog- 
raphy of that name “ John ” was very similar to, 


292 


STEP BY STEP 


if not identical with, the one written on the back of 
the photograph of the English soldier which she 
had reclaimed from the rubbish that Mr. Sherburne 
had ordered to be thrown away after the cleaning 
of the library. But she made no comment; she sim- 
ply said to herself, “ I’ll . ask Louis to compare 
them,” and she was so absorbed in this new phase of 
the old mystery that she forgot her surprise at 
Josephine’s question about the name of Nate' or 
Nathan Judkins. 

“ Here is a curious old relic,” she presently ob- 
served, as she lifted from the box a worn and faded 
but richly embossed leather case, about eight inches 
long by five wide, and held it up before Josephine. 
“ It must have been a very handsome thing in its day 
and quite expensive. It has an inter-lining of oil 
silk between the leather and the green satin, and I 
think it must have been made for some one going 
on a sea-voyage, to keep letter-paper, envelopes, 
stamps, etc., from becoming damp. See ! the various 
compartments look as if intended for writing ma- 
terials.” 

Josephine took the case from her and examined 
it with some manifestation of interest. But even 
though it had evidently been a rich and costly thing 
in its day, it seemed to her to be utterly worthless 
now, and she presently laid it aside and resumed her 
work, chatting with her companion, who was tying 
her carefully assorted letters into packages, prepara- 
tory to putting them away. 

In the midst of this a maid appeared, who came 


STEP BY STEP 


293 


to say the cook would like to see the housekeeper 
below on some matter pertaining to dinner. 

“ I won’t be long, Josephine, so stay where you 
are till I come back,” Miss "Wellington observed, as 
she arose to leave the room. 

Josephine took a few stitches after she was left 
alone, then her hands dropped listlessly upon her lap, 
and she fell to thinking over what Miss Wellington 
had told her regarding Louis’ mother. 

“ So she was an English woman, and her name was 
Annie J udkins,” she mused. u How queer ! I won- 
der if there can be the remotest connection between 
her and the man, Hate Judkins, of whom that tipsy 
stranger spoke that night.” 

As she sat thinking of this her glance fell again 
upon the old leather case, when she caught sight of 
something that looked like a monogram on the back 
of it. 

Reaching for it she began to study it. It was al- 
most obliterated in places, but, carefully tracing it 
with her needle, she finally made out the letters: 

“ J. S.” 

“ Those are IJncle John’s initials ! What a strange 
coincidence ! ” she exclaimed. “ And — Miss Wel- 
lington said those letters were signed ‘ John.’ It is 
rather a singular mix-up of names and identities. 
That man addressed Uncle John as Hate Judkins. 
Louis’ mother’s name was Annie Judkins, and his 
grandfather’s was John! ” 

As she was peeping into the various compartments 
of the case, in an aimless kind of way, she thought 


294 


STEP BY STEP 


she detected a slight crackle as if there were a piece 
of stiff paper between the lining and the leather. 
Examining it more closely she found that a slit had 
been cut in the oil-silk interlining. She inserted her 
fingers in the aperture and brought to light a folded 
paper yellow with age, but otherwise looking as if 
it had never before been disturbed in its hiding-place. 

Without pausing to consider that she might be 
prying into something she had no right to know, 
she opened it, and the first line her eyes fell upon 
caused a cry of amazement to burst from her. 

It was the record of a marriage. Beneath this a 
birth was recorded, and on the next line, beside a 
date ten years later, the entry of a death. 

Then there followed some closely written pages 
which Josephine’s eager eyes devoured with almost 
lightning-like rapidity. 

By the time she reached the end her face was 
absolutely colorless, and wore a look of unspeakable 

horror. 

“ What can it mean ? ” she panted. Then, throw- 
ing out one hand with a repelling gesture — “ I see 
— I see ! Everything is explained ! Oh, why should 
I have been the one to discover it ? ” 

She was greatly excited, and hastily refolding the 
paper was about to slip it back into its place of con- 
cealment, when an unaccountable impulse caused her 
to seize a pencil from her work-basket and a piece of 
blank paper and copy the names and dates of that 
marriage, birth and death. 

The brief story related beneath she had no need 


STEP BY STEP 


295 

to copy; she would never be able to forget it if she 
lived a hundred years! 

The copy made, she carefully replaced the paper 
where she had found it, pressing the oil-silk inter- 
lining down hard upon it and smoothing the satin 
over that. Then she put the case back with the let- 
ters, but feeling strangely like a thief as she did so. 

When Miss Wellington returned Josephine was 
busily engaged with her fancy-work, and forced her- 
self to be cheerful and social, even though her mind 
was in a whirl until the lunch-bell rang. 

As soon as the meal was over Josephine went di- 
rectly to her own room and locked herself in. Then, 
all her forced strength forsaking her, she sank in a 
heap upon the floor, dropping her face upon her 
knees. She was miserable and wildly rebellious in 
view of the secret which had been revealed to her 
that morning. Why — why had it fallen to her lot 
to discover it? Why had she been possessed to pry 
into the secret recesses of that old leather case ? Oh, 
if she had only let it alone — if she had not touched 
it the second time ! It was cruel, it was horrible ; 
and now there was no escape from its menace. 

She, the adopted daughter and heiress of John 
Sherburne, alone held in her keeping the fate of four 
people: Louis, Margaret, her uncle John, and— her- 
self. Had she not already had enough to bear with- 
out having this fearful responsibility, with its crush- 
ing shame and sacrifice, also laid upon her ? 

Could she ever meet what seemed to lie before her ? 
Did she possess sufficient regard for truth and honor 


STEP BY STEP 


296 

to go boldly to the friend to whom she owed so much, 
tell him that she had unearthed the secret of his life, 
and take her stand for the right, in the face of all 
that he had done for her ? 

Then came the temptation to let it alone, and pos- 
sibly some one else — Louis or Miss Wellington — 
might yet find what she had found; then let Louis 
face John Sherburne with it — it was his affair more 
than hers — and demand restitution. She would thus 
escape acting the part of the viper which stung the 
bosom that warmed it. That, to her, seemed the 
cruelest feature of the whole matter. 

In the midst of these arguments came the appall- 
ing thought that it was beyond the power of John 
Sherburne to right this wrong, for had he not already 
endowed her with all that he possessed? And, like 
a blow in the face, there swiftly followed the con- 
viction that he had done this very thing to secure 
his ill-gotten wealth, and so, by making her his bene- 
ficiary, had shifted all responsibility from his shoul- 
ders to hers. 

Her blood boiled with indignation as she realized 
that she had been made accessory — even though un- 
consciously — to such a plot. She saw that, as mat- 
ters now stood, she could retain possession of this 
fortune, and no one could wrest it from her, and the 
future of both would be luxuriously provided for. 

“ Did he imagine that I would lend myself 
to such a scheme ?” she panted, springing to her 
feet and pacing the floor excitedly. “ He might 
never have been detected but for what I found this 


STEP BY STEP 


2 97 

morning; yet even if some one else had discovered 
it, could he believe that I would keep what I had 
no moral right to have? Oh, Uncle John — Uncle 
John! it was unworthy of you. It was unfair to 
me; and I loved you so; I love you now, in spite 
of all, for you have always been good to me.” 

“ Now what am I going to do ? ” she moaned. 
“ Of course I know what is the right thing to do, 
and if I do it Louis and Margaret need not wait two 
long years for their home. Margaret once sacri- 
ficed herself for a foe; do I now possess sufficient 
principle and fortitude to deal justly and keep my 
friend, preserve my honor, my self-respect, my peace 
of mind ? ” 

Just then her glance fell upon a silken scarf that 
hung over the foot-rail of her bed. It was one that 
Margaret had forgotten when she went home, and 
Josephine had intended to send it to her that very 
day by mail. She caught it up with a pathetic little 
cry, and, burying her face in its soft folds, fell to 
weeping in utter abandonment. 

With this rain of tears there was poured forth all 
the bitterness that had so rankled in her heart dur- 
ing the last few weeks, while a flood of love and 
peace, together with a buoyant sense of supremacy 
over all that had seemed to crush her to earth, 
flowed in, like balm and oil, to soothe and heal. It 
was the “ Peace, be still ” after the storm and tem- 
pest, and at length, with a restful little sigh, she 
lifted her head and wiped her tear-laden cheeks. 

But a look of dismay overspread her face as she 


STEP BY STEP 


298 

saw the soaked and discolored scarf in her hands. 

“ Margaret’s scarf is ruined ! ” she said. Then a 
smile chased the clouds away as she added : “ But 
it is baptized with love, and I shall keep it as long 
as I live.” 

A couple of days later Mr. Sherburne returned 
from his office in high spirits, and, while the family 
were at dinner, burst forth with almost boyish 
eagerness : 

“ How would you like a trip to Europe, J osie ? ” 

“ That has been a delectable prospect which I 
have nursed for a good many years,” Josephine re- 
plied, repressing a sigh. “ You know papa prom- 
ised to give me a year of travel abroad as soon as I 
finished my college course.” 

“ Well, you shall have it now, my girl,” said her 
uncle cheerily. “ I’ve about made up my mind to 
rest on my oars for awhile. Business has been 
booming of late, and there is another fat plum 
about ready to drop into your basket, Miss Ash- 
ton; so it has occurred to me that we may as well 
have a real good time for the next two or three 
years.” 

Miss Wellington found herself wondering if the 
“ fat plum ” had ripened upon the bogus mine 
which had been the rock upon which Mr. Sherburne 
and Louis had split; and Josephine was also cringing 
under a similar thought. But the gentleman was so 
engrossed with his subject, he went on talking of his 
plans, mentioning various places he wished to visit, 
and questioning Josephine regarding her prefer- 


STEP BY STEP 


2 99 

ences. Consequently lie did not appear to observe 
her lack of enthusiasm regarding the proposed trip. 

When dinner was over he asked her to come to 
the library and examine some itineraries which he 
had brought home to discuss with her. 

J osephine followed him with a quaking heart, for 
she realized that the time had come for her to tell 
her uncle the secret she had discovered. She lis- 
tened quietly while he read aloud an attractive pros- 
pectus; and when he finally laid it aside she in- 
quired, by way of opening the subject so near her 
heart : 

“ What will be the expense of such a trip, Uncle 
John? n 

The man turned to her with a good-natured laugh. 

“ Miss Ashton, you do not need to care what the 
expense will be,” he said. “ You have money 
enough and to .spare.” 

“ But I have never felt as if it really belonged 
to me,” Josephine replied with rising color. “ I — I 
suppose there is a great deal.” 

“ Well, I don’t imagine we would rank with so- 
called money kings; but I’ve always been pretty 
lucky in business, and am more than satisfied with 
the results.” 

u But you had a fine windfall to begin with, 
hadn’t you? I once heard Aunt Madeline tell 
mamma that you inherited quite a fortune.” 

John Sherburne frowned with annoyance. 

“ Well, yes; there were some twenty thousand 


3 °° 


STEP BY STEP 


pounds that came to me from — from a relative,” 
he reluctantly admitted. 

“ That is about a hundred thousand dollars, I be- 
lieve, thoughtfully observed the girl, with quick- 
ening heart-throbs. 

“ Ye — es; but what are you driving at, Josie?” 
queried her guardian, bending a curious look upon 
her. 

Josephine moved her chair closer to his side, and 
lifted a pale, grave face to him. 

“ Uncle John,” she began tremulously, “ I had 
an object in asking you these questions; and now 
will you be very kind and patient while I tell you 
a little story that I have recently learned ? ” 

Without waiting for a reply she went on rapidly: 

“ Away back in 18 — the eldest son of John 
Sherburne, Senior, an ironmonger of England, 
married against his father’s wishes. He was dis- 
inherited, and all the ironmonger’s property was 
willed to the younger son, James John Sherburne, 
Junior, afterward enlisted as a soldier in Her Maj- 
esty’s Fifty-seventh Regiment, where, in time, he 
became a captain. Later he was discharged be- 
cause of illness and disability. After lingering 
some time he died. The evening previous to his 
burial a deserter — wait, Uncle John” — as the man, 
who until that moment had sat as if frozen, gave a 
violent start — “ a deserter named Nathan Judkins 
sought refuge with Mrs. Sherburne. Upon learn- 
ing of her affliction, and that she and her child 
were reduced to absolute want, without even the 


STEP BY STEP 


3 01 


necessary money for funeral expenses, Nathan Jud- 
kins offered to buy her husband’s discharge papers 
and pay her a large sum for them, provided she 
would assume the name of Judkins, he taking that 
of John Sherburne. Thus protected, he would be 
able to evade the officers who were on his track, 
and so make good his escape. Half-crazed with 
grief and her financial troubles, the widow con- 
sented. She never fully realized what a grave 
mistake she had made until, a few years, after com- 
ing to this country, she read an advertisement for 
the nearest of kin to James Wilton Sherburne, 

shire, England, and knew that she had sold 

the birthright of her only child.” 

“ Good Heavens, Josephine, what do you mean? 
Who told you this story? Are you crazy? ” John 
Sherburne leaned forward and laid an almost sav- 
age grip upon her arm. There was a wild light in 
his eyes that made her shrink involuntarily from 
him. 

“No, Uncle John, I am not crazy; though dur- 
ing the last few days I have been almost crushed 
by the burden of this secret. I learned the story 
from a written statement left by the widow of the 
real John Sherburne, who was a captain in Her 
Majesty’s Eifty-seventh.” 

“ Where did you get that statement? ” demanded 
Her uncle sharply. 

“ I found it. It is a secret which I alone possess 
as yet, although it is liable to be discovered by others 
at any time. Here is a record of John Sherburne’s 


3 02 


STEP BY STEP 


family, which I copied from the statement.” Draw- 
ing a slip of paper from the folds of her corsage, she 
laid it in his hand. 

The man was greatly excited, and trembled vis- 
ibly as he grasped the paper and held it up -to the 
light to read; but he breathed easier after taking 
in with one quick glance that brief record of mar- 
riage, birth, and death. 

“ Humph! this doesn’t amount to very much,” 
he observed. “ Where is the story that goes with 
it?” 

“ I did not have time to copy that,” Josephine re- 
plied. “ I only read it very hurriedly. I suppose I 
had no right to do that; but those names so startled 
me that I devoured what followed almost before 
I knew what I was about. You say this record does 
not amount to very much; but it amounts to a great 
deal, in my opinion. John Sherburne married 
Mary Harworth in 18 — . They had one child, 
Annie Sherburne, who was ten years old when her 
father died. She afterwards became the wife of 
Albert Arnold; and Louis Arnold is the grandson 
of Captain John Sherburne and — the nearest of 
kin to James Wilton Sherburne; so—” 

“ Well? ” came impatiently from between the 
man’s tightly shut teeth as she paused. 

“ You remember how, the night we went to the 
station to meet Margaret, a man accosted you by 
the name of Nate Judkins ” 

“ Well? ” 

“ And” — Josephine was very pale; she was find- 


STEP BY STEP 


303 

ing her self-imposed task very trying — “I had seen 
Captain John Sherburne’s discharge. You had told 
me it was yours ” 

“ And it is mine,” interposed her companion, with 
colorless lips, but with a hunted look in his eyes. 

“ So,”- — Josephine forced herself to finish what 
she had to say — “ after reading Mrs. Sherburne’s 
statement, it came to me that you were the man who 
had bought her husband’s discharge and- ” 

Her voice failed her utterly at this point, and she 
dropped her head wearily upon her hand. 

“ And you believe that I am that deserter — 
Nathan Judkins! that I bought John Sherburne’s 
discharge of his widow, and afterwards passed my- 
self off as nearest of kin to James Wilton Sher- 
burne, and appropriated his fortune! A fine char- 
acter you have made out your uncle to be, Miss Ash- 
ton! ” The man’s tone was exceeding bitter as he 
concluded, and his face was distorted with mingled 
pain and anger. 

“ Oh, Uncle John! ” breathed the girl almost in- 
audibly, as she laid an appealing hand upon his arm. 

He did not appear to hear her. He sat straight 
and rigid in his chair, thinking, with every faculty 
of his mind alert; going over every step of his career 
and, while conscious that he was finally unmasked, 
at least to Josephine, trying to find some loop-hole 
of escape from the terrible tangle. 

The bitterest drop in his poisoned cup, however, 
was the fact that this girl — the only being in the 
world whom he loved and who possessed any affec- 


3°4 


STEP BY STEP 


tion for Kim — had been the one to unearth his secret. 
It was with a feeling akin to despair he realized that 
his life would be a blank without her. 

If, now that he stood revealed to her as the 
crafty schemer and impostor which all his life he 
had been, she' should repudiate him, he knew that 
all the wealth of the world would not make up to 
him for such a loss. 

Her pallor and evident suffering also hurt him 
deeply. Were they caused by her disappointment 
in him, or by the prospect of losing the fortune 
which he had settled upon her? 

“ You have not yet told me, Josephine, where 
you found this story,” he at length remarked, after 
having forced himself to a semblance of calmness. 

“ In an old leather case which had been put away 
with some! letters belonging to Louis Arnold’s 
mother,” she told him, and then related in detail 
just how the discovery had been made. 

“ Do you suppose Miss Wellington still has that 
case here ? ” he inquired when she concluded. 

“ I cannot say, Uncle John ; she may have returned 
it to Louis,” Josephine responded, as she flashed a 
searching glance into his face. “ I am quite sure, 
though, that she has not discovered what I know, for 
I was very careful to put the paper back just where 
I found it, and I — I pressed the oil-silk down close 
over it. My first impulse was to conceal what I had 
learned from everyone, for your sake and for my 
own, too, for like a flash it rushed in upon my mind 
what such a discovery would mean to us both.” 


STEP BY STEP 


305 

She paused a moment, then lifted her ejes to his, 
a clear and steady light shining in them. 

<c That shows you, Uncle John,” she resumed, 
“ that I am not above being tempted. There has 
always been a great deal that was arrogant, selfish, 
and mean in my make-up, and I am going to tell you 
something of a terrible experience I once had because 
I allowed myself to be governed by those propen- 
sities.” 

“ Don’t tell me anything that will pain you to re- 
call,” Mr. Sherburne interposed. 

“ Yes, I am going to, for I think it may help us 
both to do right now,” Josephine returned. “ Mar- 
garet Lawrence and I, as you know, were classmates 
in high school at home, during our senior year. I 
had led the class until she came. Then she went to 
the front and I became so wildly jealous of her I 
determined I would ruin her record and get the lead 
again. We were forbidden to use a mathematical 
key — she was specially brilliant in mathematics — 
and I hid one that belonged to Bob in her desk. It 
was found there by the principal, and Margaret was 
publicly reprimanded. But there was something 
found in the book which betrayed my agency, though 
I wouldn’t admit it even then. Margaret, however, 
insisted that my name should not be known in con- 
nection with the discovery, saying she would rather 
never be set right than have me publicly disgraced 
— only the principal and one other knew anything 
about it. But Mr. Allyn declared that Margaret 
must be exonerated before the class. Of course I 


STEP BY STEP 


3°6 

knew I ought to confess the whole thing; but I was 
obstinate and seemed to hate Margaret all the more 
because of her goodness in shielding me. A few 
months later she saved me from a bad accident and 
my ponies from being killed — but you know all about 
that — and that broke my wicked spirit. I confessed 
everything to her, and told the whole class about the 
key ” 

“ Great Scott, Josephine, that was pluck!” Mr. 
Sherburne here exclaimed, in a burst of admiration. 

“ Pluck ? ” she repeated scornfully. “ It was but 
tardy justice, and I never knew a peaceful moment 
until I did it. I could never forget it — it was like 
a poisoned thorn fastened and corroding in my flesh. 
But Margaret was so dear about it; and, after that, 
we grew to love each other, and have been the closest 
friends ever since, until — until she came here for 
her visit.” 

“ Until she came here ? Why, J osephine ? ” said 
her companion in great surprise. 

“Yes — and oh, Uncle John, this is worse than the 
other,” returned Josephine, hiding her scarlet face 
against his shoulder. 

“ Then don’t tell it, my girl,” he said, as he softly 
stroked the brown head with an unsteady hand. 

“ Yes ; I must finish,” she asserted, as she sat 
erect again and resolutely resumed : “ Before she 
came — yes, even before I left high school — I was 
fond of — Louis.” 

“Josie!” 


STEP BY STEP 


307 

“ Wait, please,” she pleaded, with a catch in her 
breath. 

“ After he came to Chicago the feeling grew and 
grew; but when Margaret came I saw, almost from 
the first, that they had chosen each other. Then I 
had all that old hate and jealousy, which I thought 
had been rooted out of my nature so long ago, to 
battle with again. I cannot tell you what a dreadful 
time I had, nor how I ever got through that last week 
of her visit.” 

“ Ah ! now I understand,” interposed Mr. Sher- 
burne, as he recalled the reaction that followed Mar- 
garet’s departure. 

“ The last night Margaret was here,” J osephine 
went on, without seeming to heed the interruption, 
“ she told me of her engagement and showed me her 
ring, and I have been like two individuals in mortal 
combat with each other ever since. Then, to cap the 

climax, came this revelation that — that ” She 

paused and lifted an appealing look to the man beside 
her. 

“ Go on ! ” he commanded, with paling lips. 

“ This revelation that Louis Arnold’s grandfather 
— not you — was Captain John Sherburne, of Her 
Majesty’s Fifty-seventh, and the rightful heir to the 
fortune left by his brother, James Wilton Sherburne, 
and which now legally belongs to Louis Arnold, to- 
gether with a proper rate of interest for the years 
he has been deprived of it.” 


3°8 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER XXII 

Josephine paused again, but John Sherburne 
made no comment, although the expression on his 
face told of strongly conflicting emotions within; 
and she resumed: 

“ It took my breath away when I first grasped the 
truth. I saw that Louis would marry Margaret very 
soon — with this fortune they would not need to wait 
two long years, as they had planned — while you 
and I perhaps might be reduced to poverty. Why 
should Margaret always come between me and my 
fondest hopes? I asked myself with jealous bitter- 
ness. First she won class honors from me; then 
she won Louis, and with him will share the fortune 
which I had begun to look upon as mine. It wasn’t 
fair, I said, and then — I hid that paper again in 
the case. You can see, Uncle John, how the evil 
in me cropped up anew, and I found myself upon 
the verge of an abyss which, as I gazed into it, 
made me shrink back appalled. Oh, I cannot live 
it over again; but I struggled until I could battle, 
no longer, then something within me let go — I am 
sure it was my selfish will — and everything seemed 
to whirl and slip away from me for a little. The 
letting-go saved me. I knew then that nothing 
could tempt me to lend myself to the perpetuation 


STEP BY STEP 


3°9 

of this wrong. I knew that self was really con- 
quered and I need not lose my friend, my capacity 
to love, my honor, my self-respect. Then I saw I 
must come to you, tell you what I had learned, also 
of my resolve to do what is right and beg you to 
deal justly also.” 

After she ceased speaking there followed a long- 
silence, during which John Sherburne sat with 
bowed head and averted face; and who shall tell 
of the struggle that was raging within his long 
case-hardened heart ? All the pride, greed and com- 
bativeness of his nature arose in hot rebellion 
against having the splendid fortune, which he had 
spent the best part of his life in amassing, wrested 
from him just as he was contemplating retiring 
from active business, and anticipating solid enjoy- 
ment for the remainder of his life. Great Heavens ! 
the mere thought of restoring to the rightful heir 
those twenty thousand pounds, with even the mini- 
mum rate of interest added for all the intervening- 
years, made every individual hair stand on end 
and every separate pore reek moisture. 

It would more than bankrupt him; and how could 
he ever hope to retrieve himself, at his time of 
life, and make suitable provision for Josephine’s 
future? He loved the girl with all his heart, and 
could not endure the thought of having her battle 
with the world. He had legally adopted her and 
settled his property upon her for the sole purpose 
of averting this very exigency; and now, strangely 
enough, she herself had seemed to have been made 


3 10 


STEP BY STEP 


the channel through which justice had overtaken 
him. 

J osephine covertly watched him while he sat 
silently revolving the situation in his mind. She 
had been calmed and strengthened by the telling 
of her story and the stand she had taken for the 
right, and she was now simply waiting for him to 
recover from the first shock of surprise before con- 
sulting with him regarding the best and easiest way 
to arrange a settlement with Louis. Consequently 
she was greatly startled when, without lifting his 
head, he observed: 

“ It can never be proved against me, Josephine.” 

“ Uncle John!” she exclaimed in a shocked 
tone, “ it has already been proven.” 

“ Yes, to you, perhaps,” he replied in a hard 
voice; “ but even if Arnold should find that state- 
ment, he could not prove that I am the man who 
bought his grandfather’s discharge and appropriated 
his fortune. There may be many men in the world 
who call themselves John Sherburne; and only one 
person living, besides yourself, has ever seen that 
paper. No; that old record alone would not be 
sufficient evidence to make out a case against me, 
and certainly I would be a fool to go to Louis and 
voluntarily confess such a transaction. No, I will 
not do it,” he cried excitedly, as he started to his 
feet and began to walk the floor like some wild 
animal in its cage, his face crimson, the veins on 
his forehead and in his neck standing out like cords. 
His eyes burned like coals of fire, his teeth were 



“ I will not do it,” he cried, excitedly 


Page 3 I o 









I 

' ' ' I 


























■ 































• ‘it 




















STEP BY STEP 


3 11 

locked, and his lips compressed in a line of relent- 
less defiance. 

Josephine regarded him with fear and trem- 
bling. She had never dreamed that he could lose 
himself in such a passion as this. Finally she 
arose, and, approaching him, was about to address 
him, when he repelled her with a violent gesture. 

“ Don’t speak to me ! ” he said fiercely. “ Go ! 
go ! I want to be alone ! ” 

The girl stole softly away, almost crushed by her 
failure to win him to deal justly, but still steadfast 
in her own determination to do right. 

u I will never share a home or money that has 
not been honorably obtained,” she said with quiet 
resolution upon reaching her room; and with that 
ultimatum she patiently bided her time. 

Then there followed several days that were in- 
describably dismal. Miss Wellington was not sure 
whether Mr. Sherburne was struggling with illness 
or absorbed in some business complication that had 
suddenly arisen to annoy him. 

Josephine, though secretly miserable, kept her 
own counsel, and calmly waited for him to recover 
somewhat from this first shock before making one 
more appeal. If she failed again, she knew she 
must take her final stand, confess the discovery of 
that paper to Miss Wellington, and let matters take 
their course; then go out into the world alone to 
face her future. 

A week from the Sunday following Josephine’s 
exciting interview with her uncle, late in the after- 


STEP BY STEP 


3 12 

noon, while sne was writing some letters, a maid 
came to her saying that Mr. Sherburne would like 
to see her in the library. 

With a quaking heart she laid aside her pen and 
arose to comply with his request, wondering within 
herself what would be the result of the interview. 

She found Mr. Sherburne lying back in his 
study-chair looking haggard and weary ; but he 
smiled faintly as she entered the room, and held 
out his hand to her with something of his old 
cordiality. 

“ Have I made you very wretched during the 
last ten days, Josephine?” he inquired as he ob- 
served that she was deeply moved. 

“ I haven’t been very happy, Uncle J ohn,” she 
truthfully returned. 

“ Happy ? Well, I’ve been in — hell! ” he hoarsely 
rejoined with exceeding bitterness. 

Then suddenly pulling himself together, he 
reached for a chair near him, saying: 

“ But sit down. I want to talk more about — that 
affair. I’ve come to the conclusion that something 
has got to be done. Do you think we could — com- 
promise the matter ?” 

“ Compromise ? ” repeated Josephine inquiringly. 

“ Yes. Suppose I were to make over a sum of 
money to Arnold, say fifty thousand dollars, with- 
out letting him know where it came from — would 
that satisfy your conscience ? ” 

“ Would you regard that as proper restitution? ” 
Josephine inquired. 


STEP BY STEP 


3*3 

“ W e'll, it would be quite a windfall for a young 
man like Louis,” said the man, shifting uneasily in his 
chair. “ Who knows but that, if James Sherburne’s 
fortune had fallen to the boy’s father and mother, 
it might have been squandered long ago?” 

Josephine regarded her guardian with sad, heavy 
eyes. She was bitterly disappointed and sick at 
heart. 

“ I do not see how there can be any compromise,” 
she said, after thinking a moment. “ It seems to me 
that nothing but full restitution is to be considered.” 

“ But that would mean a clean breast of every- 
thing.” 

“ Yes, but — oh, LTncle John, let us do right and 
be happy! ” Josephine pleaded, as two great tears 
rolled over her cheeks and splashed upon her hands. 

The man groaned aloud. Her tears hurt him 
sorely. 

“ But, Josephine, can’t you see what would fol- 
low for me? — arrest for crime and desertion, extra- 
dition, court-martial, and perhaps ” 

“ Oh, no, Uncle John, I am sure you do not need 
to fear anything of the kind,” Josephine eagerly in- 
terposed. “ I know Louis Arnold well enough to 
feel certain that you would receive only kindness 
and consideration from him. He does not believe 
in resentment or retaliation; his religion forbids it, 
and I know that you — we — will never know another 
happy day until this wrong is made right.” 

The man turned a wondering look upon her. 
She had said “ we,” as if she held herself responsible 


STEP BY STEP 


3H 

with him, and meant to share whatever came to 
him, to the bitter end; and this voluntary clinging 
to him, in spite of everything, did more toward 
breaking him down than anything that had yet 
occurred. 

“ I see where you stand,” he said dejectedly, “ and 
I may as well admit the truth. I am that deserter 
who sought refuge with John Sherburne’s widow. 
My regiment had been ordered abroad on a very 
perilous campaign. Some of our officers were brutal 
men, who made the lives of those under them a bur- 
den; while my captain — I was an orderly — held a 
bitter grudge against me, and I vowed that I would 
not serve under him. I made my escape just as 
we were on the point of sailing. I had saved con- 
siderable money, over and above 1 a windfall of a 
couple of thousand pounds from my mother, who 
had died a few months previous, and most of this 
I paid for John Sherburne’s discharge. I imme- 
diately came to this country; but a few years later I 
saw in a New York paper an inquiry for the nearest 
of kin to James Wilton Sherburne, second son of 
the late John Sherburne of — shire, England, and 
the devil suggested that I make a try for whatever 
property he had left. I succeeded in my scheme, 
without a hitch, and immediately returned to the 
United States, for naturally I felt safer here than 
in England. Very soon afterwards I met your aunt 
Madeline and married her, and — you know the 
rest. With money at my command, I at once began 
to make more. I knew I was flourishing on what 


STEP BY STEP 


315 


did not really belong to me, and sometimes uncom- 
fortable! thoughts of that widow 'and her daughter 
would force themselves upon me, and I used to 
tell myself that if I could find them I would do 
something handsome for them if they were in need. 
I supposed they wefce still living somewhere in 
England; but about ten or eleven years ago I ran 
across Louis Arnold, ragged and barefooted, at a 
county fair in New Hampshire ” 

“ How strange ! ” murmured Josephine in sur- 
prise. 

“ Strange! it was fate — relentless fate! ” returned 
her companion dejectedly, then resumed: “I knew 
at once that the boy was a Sherburne, for he was 
the image of his mother at the same age; and her 
pathetic face and great dark eyes had often haunted 
me. Your aunt and I had been up in the mountains 
for a few weeks. We were on our way to make 
your folks a visit, before coming home to Chicago, 
and we stopped off to see the racing at the fair. 
I was so upset the moment I saw the little tramp, 
I sought him out and questioned him about his 
family. He corroborated my suspicions regarding 
his identity, by telling me that his mother was born 
in England and that her maiden name was Annie 
Judkins.” 

Mr. Sherburne then related how his wife had 
found the photographs Louis had lost; how, later, 
Miss Wellington had discovered them while clean- 
ing the library, and of his recent interview with 
Joe Dawson. 


STEP BY STEP 


316 

u Well, I suppose it was to be my fate and I have 
got to face it,” he grimly observed in conclusion. 

Josephine leaned forward and smiled into his eyes. 

“ Miss W ellington would tell you that it was 
truth, mercy, and justice leading you, step by step, 
to your salvation,” she said softly. 

“ Salvation? No, to shame, humiliation and ruin 
would be more to the point,” he groaned. “ Do you 
realize, child, what it would mean for me to right 
this wrong, as you put it, just from a financial stand- 
point alone? ” 

“ I do not know, Uncle John, what your fortune 
amounts to, but I have made a rough estimate of 
legal interest on twenty thousand pounds for thirty- 
five years and it almost took my breath away,” Jo- 
sephine gravely returned. 

“ And well it might; for it would make beggars 
of us both,” he 1 curtly retorted. 

“ Of course the loss of this money would seem 
harder to you than to me, for you have accumulated 
most of it yourself,” said Josephine thoughtfully. 
“ But you still have your talent for business, and if 
I can get a school we will make a little home for 
ourselves somewhere, and I am sure we will be very 
comfortable.” 

The man studied her fine face for a moment, an 
intensely yearning expression in his eyes. 

“ Then you wouldn’t utterly repudiate your old 
uncle, after learning how deeply dyed ” he be- 

gan; but Josephine would not allow him to go on. 
She gently laid the tips of her fingers upon his lips 
to check him. 


STEP BY STEP 


2> l l 

u What am I that I should judge you ? ” she ques- 
tioned sadly. “ That was why I told you of my 
high school experience. You have been tempted in 
one way, I in another, and we both have fallen; 
though, to me, it seems worse to rob a person of her 
reputation than to take money that belongs to 
another.” 

Her listener groaned again as he saw how she was 
trying to lighten his burden by criminating herself. 

“ But we need not fall again,” she went on, in a 
brighter tone. “ Another temptation has come to us, 
and we are not going to yield to it ; we are going to 
do as nearly right as we can, and so atone, in some 
measure at least, for the past.” 

“ And if I will not ? ” he questioned as she paused. 

“ Then — forgive me, Uncle John, if I say some- 
thing that may sound hard and ungrateful after all 
your kindness to me ; but I — you — we- ” 

“ Yes, I understand,” he supplemented as she fal- 
tered and her voice failed utterly. “ We could not 
preserve our present relations. You would not re- 
main with me to share what seems to you my ill- 
gotten wealth.” 

His tone was exceedingly bitter from his own men- 
tal anguish. What had hurt and humiliated him 
most was the fact that Josephine had felt it neces- 
sary to abase herself to his level, revealing the con- 
flict between good and evil in her own consciousness, 
even to the extent of unveiling the most sacred re- 
cesses of her lacerated heart. 

The girl realized that he was suffering keenly; so, 


STEP BY STEP 


3 l8 

without replying directly to what he had said, she 
slipped her hands over his arm, closely interlacing 
her fingers around it, and, leaning her fair head 
against his shoulder, pleaded: 

“ You will right this wrong, you will begin over 
again, and I shall never leave you. We are both 
strong and well, and I am not afraid 'or ashamed to 
work; and if we have each other and love each other 
we can be happy together. Oh, you will make this 
a voluntary restitution , will you not ? ” she went on, 
her voice quivering with the intensity of her desire. 
“ Then there need be no publicity about it. Only 
we four people would ever know anything about it; 
and that would be so much better than — compulsory 
reparation.” 

“ Josephine! Would you make it compulsory?” 
questioned the man in a startled tone. 

The girl suddenly arose to her feet, catching her 
breath sharply, and stood before him with uplifted 
face and clasped hands. 

“ Oh, don’t — dont make this too hard for me, 
Uncle John,” she almost sobbed. “ But I could not 
bear to live and keep such a secret.” 

John Sherburne also leaped to his feet, put out 
his arms and drew her into them, his features work- 
ing convulsively. 

“ I will not ask you to keep it, Josephine,” he said 
brokenly. “ You have conquered. You shall have 
your way, and I will do the best I can — even to the 
last farthing — to make restitution. Yow, dear, 
neither of us can bear any more to-night. Go to 


STEP BY STEP 


319 

jour room and rest, and let me think ; then to-morrow 
we will make a beginning in the right direction.” 

He led her to the door and opened it for her to 
pass out; hut she clung to him for a moment as if 
loth to leave him. Then, lifting her shining eyes to 
his, she murmured: “ Thank you, Uncle John.” It 
was all she could say, but leaning toward him she 
touched her lips to his in a light caress, and was gone, 
leaving him with the feeling as of one who has re- 
ceived a heavenly benediction. 


3 20 


STEF BY STEP 


CHAPTER XXIII 

John Sherburne spent the night in his library 
looking over and filing numerous papers, exam- 
ining accounts, and computing interest. 

Morning found him pale and worn ; but there was 
a restful look in his eyes, and he had a composure 
of manner that bespoke an easier conscience than lie 
had known for many a long day. 

Josephine slept like a baby the whole night 
through, and came down to breakfast feeling both 
strengthened and refreshed. She still showed traces 
of her recent trying experiences, but the expression 
of suffering and anxiety had faded from her face, 
and she appeared more like herself than she had done 
since Christmas. 

Before Mr. Sherburne left for his office he drew 
Josephine aside to say that he would like her to tell 
Miss Wellington what she had discovered and the 
result of their conversation the previous evening, and 
ask her to inform Louis regarding the matter and 
have him appoint an early interview. 

Accordingly, Josephine sought Miss Wellington as 
soon as she returned to her rooms after she had given 
her orders for the day. 

“ I have come to ask, Miss Wellington, if you still 
have that box of old letters you were looking over 


STEP BY STEP 


3 21 

the other day % 33 she inquired, coming to the point 
at once. 

“ Yes, dear ; Louis has not been here since to ascer- 
tain the result of my examination, which did not 
amount to much, after all,” the lady replied, although 
she felt a trifle surprised that Josephine should refer 
to the matter again. 

“ I am glad/’ J osephine quietly returned. “ And 
would you mind getting out that old leather case 
again ? I have something important I would like to 
tell you about it.” 

Miss Wellington looked rather mystified at this 
request, but, making no comment, she went to her 
closet, brought forth the box and set it upon her work- 
table, where, removing the cover, she found the case 
and passed it to Josephine. 

But the girl did not offer to take it. She simply 
said : 

“ Please open it and look between the leather and 
the oil-silk lining, where the case folds together.” 

Miss Wellington obeyed, found the slit in the lin- 
ing, and, with a face expressive of mingled emotions, 
drew forth the folded paper that had been hidden 
there for so many years. 

With trembling fingers, for she was strangely im- 
pressed by Josephine’s manner, she began to unfold 
it, when the girl interposed, saying : 

“ Before you read it, I want to tell you that the 
other day, after you went downstairs, I felt a curi- 
osity to examine the case again ; and, while doing so, 
I found that paper. Without stopping to think that 


3 22 


STEP BY STEP 


I was prying into other people’s secrets, I opened it. 
Perplexed and startled by the names at the top of the 
sheet, I read on until I learned the whole story. 
Read it now yourself, dear Miss Wellington, and 
then I have more to tell you.” 

The woman, a sense of weakness coming over her, 
sank into her chair and obeyed, her face betraying 
her amazement and other conflicting emotions as she 
mastered the contents of the sheet. 

“ This is wonderful ! ” she said, as she finished 
it. “ And it is also very perplexing. I cannot 
fathom it.” 

She was thinking of John Sherburne, of the photo- 
graphs which she had found in his library — how he 
had claimed them as family pictures; how she had 
afterwards rescued them from the rubbish ; and later 
Louis had declared that they were some he had lost ; 
and the more she thought the deeper the mystery 
grew. 

“ That is what I am going to explain,” said Jo- 
sephine, coming to the rescue; and then she related 
the whole story, as we have already learned it, but 
leaving out, of course, what she had revealed to 
Mr. Sherburne regarding her former enmity toward 
Margaret and her unfortunate attachment for 
Louis. 

She told it clearly, simply, truthfully; and, while 
she did not attempt to excuse or shield her guardian 
for the great wrong he had done, she charitably 
avoided all condemnation, giving him what credit 
she could for now being willing to do his utmost 


STEP BY STEP 


3 2 3 

toward reparation, and made her own agency in the 
matter as inconspicuous as possible. 

But Miss Wellington, being a good judge of human 
nature, had read the man well. While she knew 
that he possessed some good qualities, she believed 
there was a lack of principle in his make-up that 
often led him to do many reprehensible things. She 
knew he was ambitious, grasping, and extremely stub- 
born, and she realized that it had been no light task 
for this girl to boldly face him, reveal her knowledge 
of his crime, and persuade him to make restitution, 
when such amends could not fail to mean the giving 
up of a large part, if not the whole, of what he pos- 
sessed, besides laying himself liable for crime. When 
Josephine concluded Miss Wellington laid a tender 
hand upon the girl's shoulder. 

“ My dear, what a miracle is this that you have 
wrought ! " she said, a solemn sweetness in her tones. 
“ The restoration of this money is but a small part 
of it — you have been John Sherburne's salvation, 
for I believe he will be a different man after this — 
that this will be the beginning of his real life. For 
your own part, you have manifested a spirit of self- 
abnegation that is beautiful; for, by insisting upon 
the restoration of Louis' heritage, you have nobly 
obeyed the golden rule of love — even to the extent of 
impoverishing yourself — and love, you know, is the 
fulfilling of the law." 

In her heart the woman knew that Josephine had 
sacrificed far more than a fortune in what she had 
done ; but that was a matter she did not feel at liberty 


324 STEP BY STEP 

to touch upon, though she longed to whisper a word 
of comfort in her ears. 

As Miss Wellington concluded, Josephine slid from 
her chair to her knees and wound her arms around 
the woman’s waist. 

“Dear Miss Wellington,” she said, “ you have 
helped me to do this. You have been my inspira- 
tion for good ever since I came here. You are so 
absolute in your ideas of right and wrong. Mar- 
garet and Louis were my models when we were in 
school together; somehow they seemed to be gov- 
erned by a stronger regard for principle than most 
people, and since I have been here with you I have 
begun to realize more what that principle is. You 
never will strain a point or countenance the slightest 
deviation from right; but you are so gentle and lov- 
ing, so sweet about it no one can take offence. All 
this has made me feel more and more that life is 
only worth living as it is rightly lived. But it 
was not easy for me to take this stand — either for 
myself or for Uncle John. Oh, I have never wanted 
my mother so much as during the last few weeks! ” 
she concluded with a yearning sigh, as she dropped 
her head upon Miss Wellington’s breast to conceal 
her brimming eyes. 

The woman gathered her close to her, a great 
wave of tenderness surging over her heart. 

“My dear,” she said softly, “just let yourself 
rest in the motherhood of God and be comforted.” 

“ The motherhood of God,” repeated Josephine 
looking up with wide, wondering eyes. 


STEP BY STEP 


3 2 5 

“ Have you never thought of that before? ” ques- 
tioned the elder woman, with a luminous smile. 
“ As a rule, people have regarded God as a father, 
ascribing to Him the strong attributes of authority, 
guidance and protection; but if He is ally then He 
must include within Himself the gentleness, love and 
tenderness of a mother.” 

u The motherhood of God ! 99 said Josephine 
again, lingering over the words. “ It is a beautiful 
thought; and, I am sure, even though you have 
never been a mother yourself, you must have a great 
deal of that element stored away in your heart, for 
you are so tender, loving and sympathetic toward 
others, you make everybody love you. I wonder,” a 
sudden rush of tears again suffusing her eyes, “ if 
you will let me call you Aunt Martha ? 99 

u Why, yes, dear heart, if it will be any comfort 
to you; and I am sure it will be very pleasant to 
me to hear the familiar name from you. I have 
been Aunt Martha to quite a number of young peo- 
ple in my day,” Miss Wellington concluded with a 
bright little laugh as she dropped a soft kiss on the 
girl’s lips to seal the compact. 

“ And now,” she resumed in a more matter-of- 
fact tone, I think we might as well have Louis here 
as soon as possible and get this matter straightened 
out. I believe I will write him to call to-morrow 
evening.” 

“ I wish you would, Miss — Aunt Martha,” Jose- 
phine corrected herself with an arch smile. “ I shall 
be very glad when it is all over.” 


STEP BY STEP 


3 26 

A little later Miss Wellington sent a message to 
Louis saying she had something of importance to 
communicate to him, and asking him to bring the 
photographs which she had recently given him, and 
to come if possible on the following evening. 

He made his appearance at an early hour, where- 
upon Miss Wellington gave him a detailed account 
of what Josephine had disclosed, and showed him 
the record and statement which had so long been 
concealed in the old leather case. 

Louis was of course greatly surprised, and said 
he could now understand why the photograph of 
the English soldier had been preserved with those 
of the other members of his family — a circumstance 
which had been a great puzzle to him ever since it 
had come to light. 

After talking the matter over at length with Miss 
Wellington, Louis said he was ready to meet Mr. 
Sherburne, and a maid was sent to tell that gentle- 
man that Mr. Arnold had called to see him. 

Mr. Sherburne came directly to the drawing-room 
and greeted the young man with grave courtesy, 
then invited him to accompany him to his library. 

Here, requesting his guest to be seated, he at once 
broached the all-important subject which they had 
met to discuss and briefly reviewed the whole situa- 
tion. 

Louis regarded the man with surprise as he 
talked, for he seemed greatly altered. The some- 
what pompous, consequential air which, hitherto, had 
been habitual to him, had altogether disappeared; 


STEP BY STEP 


3 2 7 


and, while there was nothing cringing or surly in his 
manner, there was a settled gravity, a straightfor- 
ward grappling with the business in hand which 
betrayed a radical change in him. He did not spare 
himself, but frankly confessed everything connected 
with his desertion from the army and his subsequent 
career, in so far as it related to his dealings with 
the Sherburne family. 

He told him how, after meeting him at the county 
fair, he had been haunted by the fear that he might 
some day be overtaken by retribution. This fear 
had grown upon him after the young man came to 
Chicago to live, and, actuated by two motives, he 
had at once made a place in his office for him. One 
of these motives was to salve his conscience by put- 
ting Louis in the way of making money; the other 
was to get him so involved in his own shady methods 
that, in case he ever did discover the truth, he 
would be so completely at his mercy that he would 
never dare to turn upon him and demand restitu- 
tion. 

He related how terrified he had been upon en- 
countering Joe Dawson; how he had immediately 
adopted Josephine and settled his property upon her, 
hoping thus to secure — beyond the possibility of 
loss — a future of affluence to himself and her. 

Money had been his god, he said, and he probably 
would never have parted with any portion of his for- 
tune, to right this wrong, but for the discovery Jo- 
sephine had made and the relentless stand she had 
taken. 


328 


STEP BY STEP 


“ It would have been far better for m y peace of 
mind if I had voluntarily done the square thing by 
you ten years ago, when I first discovered your 
identity,” he remarked in conclusion. “ It would 
have saved me the humiliation of being found out 
and compelled to do my duty by the girl I love as an 
own daughter. However, when it came to the alter- 
native of choosing between the two, I found that 
I could better bear to part with the money than with 
Josephine. I can never tell you what it means to me 
to know that she loves me well enough to stick to 
me in misfortune, and that there was something 
in me — bad as I am — that responded to the good 
in her. How ” — straightening himself with a jerk 
and reaching for a paper that lay on his desk — 
“ we will get down to business. After that is 
settled, I am at your mercy, and you can take 
what legal proceedings the case may seem to de- 
mand. I came into possession of those twenty thou- 
sand pounds in 18 — , and I have computed the in- 
terest to date at the rate the banks are paying to- 
day. Look these figures over, if you please, Ar- 
nold, and see if they are right.” 

Louis took the paper, but merely glanced at the 
last figures on the page. He knew that the broker’s 
estimate must be correct. He sat quietly think- 
ing for a few moments, then passed the sheet back 
to his companion. 

“ It is a big sum, Arnold,” said John Sherburne 
with dry lips, while he curiously searched the young 
man’s serious face. “ When such an amount gets 


STEP BY STEP 


3 2 9 

to compounding, it rolls up fast; and Louis — I 
haven’t enough to meet it. I can’t meet it within 
thousands of dollars. Now what have you to say 
about it ? ” 

“Mr. Sherburne, you do not need to meet it,” 
Louis quietly returned. “ You may simply turn 
over the principal to me, and we will regard the 
account as settled; moreover, I shall institute no 
legal proceedings against you.” 

“ What is this ? ” almost gasped the broker in 
amazement. “ You will not demand any interest 
for the use of this money for all those years ? ” 

“ No, sir.” 

“ I don’t understand you, Arnold. Who ever 
heard of any one refusing a fortune like that ? 
Why, the principal has repeated itself many 
times % ” 

“ I know that ; but ” 

“ Is this Quixotic idea supposed to be — coals of 
fire ? ” sharply demanded Mr. Sherburne, and grow- 
ing suddenly crimson under the thought. 

“ No, Mr. Sherburne, such an attitude had not 
suggested itself to me,” said Louis gravely. “ It 
would be no satisfaction whatever to me to bring 
the law to bear upon you, either for your desertion 
from the English army, or for appropriating the 
fortune left by James Wilton Sherburne. To me 
that would seem like an unworthy act of retaliation, 
of which I would not be guilty after you had volun- 
tarily sought to make amends to the extent of your 
ability to do so. Regarding this interest as you 


33 ° 


STEP BY STEP 


have computed it — I simply prefer not to have it; 
that is all.” 

John Sherburne studied the young man in deep 
perplexity. The stand Louis had taken was beyond 
his comprehension. 

“ I swear,” he at length burst forth, “ I don’t 
understand you. I appreciate your leniency in re- 
fusing to take any public action against me, but I 
imagine that is more on Josephine’s account than 
my own; all the same, I am grateful to you for the 
consideration. But about this money, it is rather 
tough on a man when he is ready to do the right 
thing that he can’t be allowed the privilege.” 

Louis grew uneasy at this point, changed his posi- 
tion, crossed and recrossed his legs and seemed gen- 
erally uncomfortable. 

“ Please let us leave it just here,” he began, 
when his companion suddenly exclaimed: 

“ Aha ! perhaps it is because you may regard it 
as tainted money,” and Louis’ conscious hush told 
John Sherburne that he had fathomed his motive. 

“ Well, it is tainted. I can’t deny it,” he hoarsely 
exclaimed. “ But it is all I have — it is all I can 
offer you.” 

“ Then let the matter rest as I have said, Mr. 
Sherburne,” Louis responded in a friendly voice. 
“ I am satisfied with the principal ; more than that 
I cannot take. It is a handsome windfall, and all 
that I feel rightly belongs to me; while — if you 
mil allow me to make the suggestion — if what re- 
mains will enable you to give others a helping hand 
in the same way, I should much prefer such a dis- 


STEP BY STEP 


33 1 

position to be made of it. There is E. A. Rollins, 
for instance, who put five years’ savings — all he 
had — into that mine and lost it.” 

“ I will — I will,” Mr. Sherburne assented with a 
gesture which showed that he was deeply moved. 
“ That was too bad about Rollins. I felt it at the 
time. And, Louis Arnold,” he went on huskily, 
“you are a clean, true-hearted fellow if there ever 
was one; you are surely trying to live up to what 
that wonderful woman, Martha Wellington, has 
taught you — you have shown to-night that you love 
your neighbor as yourself, and she has a right to 
be proud of her ‘ boy.’ I can’t stand any more to- 
night,” he added, rising, his face an ashen gray, 
“ but I will attend to this business at once and will 
deposit the amount you have named to your credit 
in the First National Bank within a few days. I 
thank you for your suggestion, and, in so far as I 
am able, I will do as you wish. Good-night, Arnold, 
and some time I hope you will allow John Sher- 
burne — if you do not object I will retain the name, 
as it would be awkward to change it — to call you 
his friend.” 

Louis also arose and frankly extended his hand. 

“ I shall be glad to regard you as my friend from 
this hour, Mr. Sherburne,” he cordially returned. 
“ And if there should ever come a time when I can 
serve you, I hope you will command me. Good- 
night.” 

The two men shook hands and parted, when Louis 
again sought Miss Wellington to tell her the result 
of the important interview. 


STEP BY STEP 


33 2 

Miss Wellington was almost overcome upon learn- 
ing of the stand which Louis had taken regarding his 
patrimony and his suggestion as to the disposal of 
the accrued interest. 

“ You have done a beautiful and noble thing, dear 
boy,” she said, with tremulous lips — “ a deed that 
will live and bear much fruit. As I look back and 
see how, step by step, you have advanced from a 
good and obedient child to a cultured, high-minded 
man, my heart is filled with joy, and I know as you 
go on the world will become a better place because 
you have lived in it.” 

“ But, Aunt Martha, it is you who have led me, 
step by step; and whatever unfolding of good there 
has been in my life I owe chiefly to you and what 
you have taught me,” Louis returned. “ I know that 
I am deeply indebted to the Westons and Mr. and 
Mrs. Richards, but your influence during those ear- 
lier years, and your faithful guidance along the way, 
even when we were separated, have done more toward 
moulding my character than anything else.” And he 
sealed his loving tribute to her by lifting the hand 
he was holding and laying it reverently against his 
lips. 

Our story is nearly told. John Sherburne had 
ever been alert and energetic in working for his own 
interests, and now, having resolved to do right, he 
proved himself no less active in trying to atone for 
his misdeeds. Instead of being crushed by what had 
occurred, he appeared, after the first shook had 
passed, to rise above it to a new sense of manhood. 


STEP BY STEP 


333 

This was specially manifest after a long and con- 
fidential chat which he sought with Miss Wellington. 

“ You do not need to use too much sackcloth and 
ashes, my friend,” she had said, in response to some 
of his expressions of self-condemnation. “ It is only 
a waste of time and energy to wallow in the slough 
of despond. You have seen your errors, you have 
repented of them. Yow all you have to do is to let 
that repentance bring forth results and — rejoice.” 

“ Rejoice ! ” repeated her listener in a doubtful 
tone. 

u Why not ? ” she queried, with a cheery smile. 
“ When evil has been cast out of us have we not cause 
for rejoicing ? Instead of getting rid of our sins and 
their results, we are only clinging to them when we 
grieve over them continually. When our Master cast 
evil out of anyone He said : ‘ Go and sin no more ’ 
— that is, ‘ Go on, leave your mistakes behind you, 
take up the duties before you ; but be careful not to 
repeat the wrong.’ Now, I’m going to quote Scrip- 
ture again,” she interpolated, with a little laugh: 
“ ‘ The people that walked in darkness have seen a 
great light.’ This light has come to you, Mr. Sher- 
burne, and you should rejoice and be glad, instead 
of wasting time by looking back and mourning over 
the darkness. Make use of the light you have re- 
ceived and go up higher.” 

This practical talk did the man great good, and he 
immediately went about his business with a lighter 
heart. It took time to straighten his affairs, but 
in a few weeks Louis’ patrimony was set aside for 
him, as promised; and as time went on matters of 


334 


STEP BY STEP 


a similar nature were adjusted for others in so far 
as Mr. Sherburne was able to make them right. 

By the end of six months, although nearly bereft 
of his once ample fortune,, he found himself fairly 
started again in a way to make an honest living; 
while Josephine was installed as mistress of a 
prettily furnished apartment with a competent maid- 
of-all-work as her only assistant. She had almost 
carried her point to become a teacher, but finding 
that Mr. Sherburne was going to be really miserable 
under such an arrangement, she finally yielded, and 
gradually found she was growing happy and light- 
hearted again in devoting herself to him. 

Miss Wellington remained with them until they 
were settled; then, after a visit to her Colorado 
relatives and a trip to her old home in New Hamp- 
shire, she went to Louis, who needed her assistance 
in preparing a home for himself and the bride he 
expected to bring to it in the near future. 

Louis had made himself so useful to his employer 
and so thoroughly conversant with the lumber bus- 
iness, which he grew to like more and more, that 
Mr. Buskirk had proposed that, at the beginning 
of the following year, they cast in their lot together 
and become equal partners. Thus, as his proposals 
were generous and the busines in a flourishing con- 
dition, Louis’ future was opening out most auspi- 
ciously before him. 

Meantime Mrs. Lawrence and her son had come 
West and were living in one of the suburbs of 
Chicago, Ted going to and from his office every day. 
Margaret followed them late in June, upon com- 


STEP BY STEP 


33 ? 

pleting her year as teacher in Smith College, and 
with the expectation of going to her own home in 
October. 

Margaret, upon learning of Josephine’s agency in 
righting the. wrong against Louis, felt that there 
would henceforth be a stronger bond than ever be- 
tween them, and this was abundantly proven by 
their never-changing friendship which was a life- 
long joy to them. 

About a month after Margaret’s arrival in Chi- 
cago a letter was received from Nellie Evarts con- 
taining the not unexpected announcement of her en- 
gagement to Charlie Osgood, who had joined the 
Evarts party in Switzerland early in June. They 
would all return late in September, she wrote, and 
were looking forward to a delightful reunion at 
Margaret’s wedding in October. 

A couple of years after the marriage of Margaret 
and Louis, Ted, who — ever since Nellie Evarts’ class 
reception five years previous — had secretly cher- 
ished a fond hope in connection with Josephine, per- 
suaded her that life still held much in store for her, 
pleading in the words of Browning: 

“ Behold me ! I am worthy 
Of thy loving, for I love thee.” 

Benjamin Weston and his good wife found, as 
time went on, that life in the city during the winter 
was, on the whole, quite attractive, particularly as 
they were both growing more in harmony with their 
daughter’s religious views and had become regular 
attendants at her church. Then, too, Hannah and 


STEP BY STEP 


33 6 




Jerry had unexpectedly announced that they had 
decided a life-long partnership would be conducive 
to their mutual interests, and they were looking for 
a farm to lease, or buy, for their future home. 
Whereupon Mr. Richards suggested that the Wes- 
ton homestead be leased to them for a term of 
years at a moderate price, with the understanding 
that the whole family spend their summers there 
as usual; and with this arrangement consummated 
to the satisfaction of all parties, the Westons hence- 
forth regarded themselves as part and parcel of the 
Richards’ household, each successive year finding 
them better pleased with the change. 

Blackbird, the colt, had long since been sold at 
a high figure to a prominent Boston man who had 
a passion for fine horses, and the beautiful creature 
had nobly fulfilled the promise of its youth, never 
showing any traces of its early injury. 

Ponce, though grown hoary and venerable with 
age, was still kindly cared for by Hannah and Jerry 
and never lost his fondness for Louis, always mani- 
festing great joy whenever the latter paid a visit to 
the farm. 

Here we must leave our friends, all of whom are 
still climbing, step by step, the rugged pathway of 
life, honestly striving to live the love that is the 
fulfilling of the law — that love which must eventu- 
ally become the watchword of all who follow after 
them, until Louis Arnold’s ideals are made univer- 
sally practical and the true brotherhood of man is 
attained. 


THE END. 

















































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